BBC on the ground during march through Jerusalem's Old City

Tens of thousands of Israeli celebrants participated in a march through Jerusalem's Old City. The event took place on a day commemorating the capture of the area by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The march proceeded through the Old City, a significant location for the participants. This annual event, often referred to as Jerusalem Day, involves large crowds and is a prominent national observance. The marchers were celebrating Israeli sovereignty and control over East Jerusalem.

On Jerusalem Day, Israeli nationalist demonstrators marched through East Jerusalem to commemorate the city's capture and annexation. The event, marked by chants including "Death to the Arabs," saw National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir unfurl an Israeli flag near the al-Aqsa mosque. Many Palestinian businesses in the Old City closed in anticipation, and scuffles broke out between radical Jewish groups and remaining Palestinian residents, requiring police intervention. Marchers, many bused in from across Israel and West Bank settlements, expressed a desire for Palestinian departure from the city. A counter-protest by the group Standing Together aimed to protect Palestinian residents from potential violence.

On May 14, 2026, the annual Israeli Flag March took place in occupied East Jerusalem, celebrating the 1967 capture of the city. Thousands of far-right Israelis participated, marching through the Old City. The event saw violence and racist incidents, with ultranationalist marchers attacking Palestinians and vandalizing property. Israeli police reportedly forced Palestinian shop owners to close and arrested 13 individuals. Peace activists from the organization Standing Together attempted to intervene but were also targeted. The marchers chanted anti-Palestinian slogans, and the event occurred amidst heightened tensions following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza.