Pictures- Tens of thousands of settlers desecrate Jerusalem with singing and dancing
On Sunday, tens of thousands of settlers stormed the city of Jerusalem in both east and west to celebrate the so-called "unification day of Jerusalem", the 51st anniversary of the occupation of the eastern part of the city after the 1967 war.
High security measures have been taken in the city of Jerusalem, especially the Old City and the neighborhoods and streets adjacent to it. Restrictions began from the afternoon until the evening to secure the annual settlers’ marches, where the streets and roads were closed by iron barriers and the intensive deployment of the occupation forces prevented Jerusalemites from walking in many roads.Some were prevented from reaching their homes in the Old City because of the closures.
In the afternoon, the march began from West Jerusalem towards the east, through Jaffa Gate, New Gate, Damascus Gate, Lions Gate and Dung Gate reaching Al-Buraq wall, where prayers and celebrations were held for this day. Throughout the march, Israeli and American flags and racist banners for the alleged temple were raised. Dancing and singing rings were formed, and Jerusalemites were verbally abused in profanity and racist expressions.
During the Jerusalemites' attempt to organize an anti-commemoration ceremony for the occupation of the city, the occupation forces chased them from one place to another starting from the Damascus gate and suppressing them in Nablus Street and Al-Musrara and Sultan Suleiman Street, and dispersed all gatherings by force.
Journalists and media crews were also assaulted and verbally abused by settlers who also danced and raised their flags in front of the journalists’ cameras in an attempt to provoke them. The occupation forces forced all journalists to be present in a certain area in Damascus Gate courtyard, and placed iron barriers around them and prevented them from leaving, which obstructed their work. Journalist Mohammed Abed Rabbo, a reporter for Voice of Palestine, was injured by a dislocated shoulder and various bruises after being and beaten and pushed while he was in the area of Al-Musrara.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested two girls in Nablus Street, and the Secretary of Fateh movement Shadi Mattour from the area Damascus Gate and 8 other youths from the streets of the city. Most of them were released after detaining and questioning them.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center pointed out that marches in small groups started since the morning hours starting from the village of Al-Tur, passing through Al-Sowaneh and Silwan and reaching Dung Gate. Marches were also organized in the markets of the Old City and outside the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In the village of Silwan, clashes broke out in Ras Al-Amoud and EinAl-Lozeh neighborhoods. The forces arrested two young men from Ras Al-Amoud and targeted the house of Khalil Abbasi with sound grenades.
The forces also arrested the youth Ashraf Hani Gheith from the neighborhood of Al-Thori in Silwan.
