On Sunday evening, hundreds of Israeli settlers forcefully entered Al-Buraq Square, located at the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, intensifying tensions in the heart of occupied Jerusalem.
According to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the Al-Quds Governorate confirmed that large groups of settlers congregated in the square, coinciding with the eve of what they mark as the anniversary of the occupation of Jerusalem. During the incursion, the settlers were seen waving Israeli flags in what has been described as a highly provocative display.
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Earlier in the day, Israeli forces set up metal barricades around the Damascus Gate—one of the main entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City—in preparation for Monday’s planned “flag march,” a controversial event known to provoke unrest. The march is expected to begin at Al-Buraq Square and wind its way through Palestinian-populated areas such as Bab al-Amud and the Wadi neighborhood inside the Old City.
In a public warning, the Al-Quds Governorate cautioned against the growing threat of escalation in the city, citing ongoing efforts by Israeli authorities to assert control over Jerusalem through organized Judaization events. These activities, they stated, are clear violations of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The governorate emphasized that the flag march forms part of a deliberate strategy of provocation, often accompanied by assaults on Palestinian residents and the chanting of racially charged slogans targeting both Muslim and Christian communities. The march is also expected to be held under the tight security cover of Israeli police, who plan to enforce a full closure around the area from 12:30 PM on Monday.
Observers have noted a sharp increase in settler incursions at Al-Aqsa Mosque since the outbreak of the Israeli military campaign against the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.
