Thousands Israeli Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Amid Provocative “Flag March”
Thousands of settlers defy status quo in occupied al-Quds under Ben-Gvir and Smotrich's leadership, sparking regional condemnation and calls for resistance
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Israeli settlers, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, stormed the Damascus Gate area in occupied al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Monday to launch the controversial and provocative “Flag March.”
The march took place under heavy Israeli police protection, which imposed sweeping restrictions on Palestinian residents of the city. Palestinians confronted the incursions with defiance.
The so-called "Flag March" is an annual event organized by extremist Israeli settlers to mark “Jerusalem Day,” the anniversary of the 1967 occupation of the city’s eastern sector. Palestinians and much of the international community view the event as a deliberate provocation and part of Israel’s broader campaign to Judaize the city.
Smotrich Calls for Reoccupation of Gaza
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also participated in the march, used the platform to renew his call for Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to the crowd of settlers, Smotrich declared:
“Are we afraid of victory?” to which the crowd roared back, “No!”
“Are we afraid of the word ‘occupation?’” he continued. “No!” the crowd responded again.
“Are we settling the Land of Israel? Are we liberating Gaza?” he shouted.
“We are triumphing over the enemy!” Smotrich proclaimed to the applause of his supporters.
Settlers Chant for Temple Construction, Storm Al-Aqsa Compound
At Damascus Gate, settlers performed the Hora—a traditional Israeli dance—and later gathered near the al-Buraq Wall adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque. There, they chanted inflammatory slogans such as, “Let’s build the Temple… It’s time to build the Temple.”
Simultaneously, large groups of settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in successive waves, escorted by Israeli police forces. According to the Islamic Waqf in al-Quds, at least 2,092 settlers had stormed the compound by mid-day.
Palestinian sources reported that Muslim worshippers were forcibly removed from the mosque’s courtyards during the raids. Settlers also reportedly assaulted shops in the Old City.
These actions constitute a flagrant violation of the long-standing status quo, under which non-Muslims may visit the Al-Aqsa compound at designated times but are not allowed to pray there. The site is administered by Jordan, although Israel maintains security control. The United Nations has repeatedly warned against attempts to alter this delicate arrangement.
Settlers Storm UNRWA Headquarters
In a further escalation, settlers stormed the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Sheikh Jarrah, a Palestinian neighborhood in occupied al-Quds.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, settlers raised banners calling for the dismantling or takeover of the agency.
Israeli authorities have severed ties with UNRWA, accusing it of collaboration with the Palestinian resistance.
Palestinian Response: Mass Mobilization and Unified Resistance
In response to the march and settler provocations, dozens of Palestinians rallied in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, calling for a unified grassroots resistance. The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and held banners condemning Israeli crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, and al-Quds.
Palestinian political factions organized the protest to denounce what they described as genocide and forced displacement by the Israeli occupation. The rally emphasized the need for national unity to resist the occupation’s ongoing war.
Factions Condemn Al-Aqsa Violations and Flag March
Several Palestinian factions issued strong condemnations in reaction to the incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and the settler-led “Flag March”:
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) denounced the events as part of a systematic campaign to desecrate the mosque and impose Israeli sovereignty over it. The group warned that these provocations were intended to divide the mosque and accelerate its Judaization. PIJ held the Israeli government fully responsible and criticized the silence of Arab regimes.
Popular Resistance Committees described the incidents as part of a “Talmudic war” aimed at destroying Al-Aqsa and replacing it with the so-called Temple. The group emphasized that the Israeli government seeks full control of the mosque compound through its repeated incursions, flag-raising, and settler rituals.
Al-Mujahideen Movement also condemned the provocations and the silence of the Arab and Islamic world. The group described the “Flag March” as a grave insult to the sentiments of over two billion Muslims around the globe.
France Condemns Ben-Gvir's Al-Aqsa Incursion
The French Foreign Ministry issued a formal condemnation of Itamar Ben-Gvir’s storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. France described the move as “a new and unacceptable provocation” and a “violation of the historic status quo” governing the holy sites in al-Quds. (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen