Israelis storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, UNRWA during Jerusalem Day march

Right-wing Israelis in Jerusalem stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and a United Nations facility for Palestinian refugees during an annual march marking Israel’s conquest of the eastern part of the city, Al Jazeera reported.

Some participants chanted, "Death to Arabs" and "May your village burn," as they marched through the Old City’s alleyways, crossing through the Muslim quarter. The march, which took place on Monday, commemorates "Jerusalem Day," marking the Israeli occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem after the 1967 war.

The presence of thousands of heavily armed police and border police was expected, as settlers frequently attack, harass, and assault Palestinians and Palestinian-owned shops in the area. These settlers reside in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where settlements and outposts are considered illegal under international law.

On the march route, groups of young Israelis, some carrying Israeli flags, confronted Palestinian shopkeepers, passers-by, schoolchildren, as well as Israeli rights activists and police. In some instances, they spat on people, hurled insults, and attempted to force their way into Palestinian homes. Police detained at least two youths at the scene, according to AFP.

A small group of protesters, including an Israeli member of parliament, stormed a compound in East Jerusalem belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Israel has banned the agency’s work in occupied Palestinian territories and within Israel, severely impacting its humanitarian operations, which have been ongoing for more than 70 years, particularly in Gaza, which is under siege and frequent bombardment.

Earlier in the day, Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, along with other politicians, was among more than 2,000 Israelis who stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and surrounding areas.

Ben-Gvir shared a video on his X account from the site, which is Islam's third holiest site, stating that he “prayed for victory in the war, for the return of all our hostages, and for the success of the newly-appointed head of the Shin Bet – Major General David Zini.”

Ben-Gvir’s actions were supported by armed police, a move he has carried out previously at sensitive junctures in Israel’s conflict with Gaza. These provocations are often seen as a means to advocate for increased military pressure on Gaza and to block humanitarian aid from reaching the region.

The Jerusalem Waqf, the Islamic authority responsible for the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, condemned the actions of Ben-Gvir and other members of the Israeli Knesset, calling for a halt to all "provocative activities" in the area. Under the management of the Jordan-appointed Waqf, the compound is exclusively reserved for Muslim prayers.