During the annual Jerusalem Day "Flag March" on May 14, 2026, tens of thousands of ultranationalist Israeli youths marched through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City while shouting racist slogans, including "Death to Arabs," "May your villages burn," and "Gaza is a graveyard."

 

Israeli nationalists chant ‘death to Arabs’ in violent Jerusalem Day march

During the annual Jerusalem Day "Flag March" on May 14, 2026, tens of thousands of ultranationalist Israeli youths marched through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City while shouting racist slogans, including "Death to Arabs," "May your villages burn," and "Gaza is a graveyard."

 

Key Events and Impact

• The Route: The state-sponsored procession entered via the Damascus Gate and cut directly through predominantly Palestinian neighborhoods to reach the Western Wall.
• Palestinian Shuttering: The vast majority of Palestinian residents barricaded themselves indoors and closed their businesses early out of fear of vandalism and assault.
• Violence and Harassment: Minor scuffles erupted in the Christian Quarter as marchers threw plastic chairs at Palestinian shopkeepers, pounded on storefronts, and attacked journalists.
• Political Provocation: National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir staged a highly controversial visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound earlier that day, raising an Israeli flag and declaring the site under full Israeli sovereignty.

Security Response and Intervention

• Police Presence: Over 3,000 Israeli officers deployed across the area to secure the perimeter but allowed the offensive chanting to continue under their watch.
• Arrests: Authorities arrested 13 individuals over "isolated" violent altercations. One person was detained by undercover border police for allegedly planning a retaliatory terror attack.
• Peace Activists: Volunteers from the joint Israeli-Palestinian peace movement Standing Together and other groups attempted to shield local Palestinian businesses and hand out flowers to de-escalate the tension.

Context

Jerusalem Day is a national holiday commemorating Israel's capture of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Mideast War. While Israelis view the anniversary as a celebration of the city's "reunification," Palestinians and the United Nations view the annexation of East Jerusalem as an illegal occupation under international law.