Latest news with #Arabs'
Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Zionists assault Palestinians, activists during flag march
Marchers chant 'death to Arabs' as they mark Zionist entity's occupation of East Jerusalem JERUSALEM: Far-right Zionist Jews assaulted Palestinians, fellow citizens and journalists during a large rally marking the Zionist entity's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 following the Six-Day war. The annual "Flag March" drew thousands chanting, dancing and waving flags shortly after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. The march frequently stokes tension as ultranationalist Jews stream into Palestinian areas of Jerusalem's walled Old City en route to the Western Wall, one of Judaism's most sacred sites, which abuts the mosque compound. Most countries consider East Jerusalem to be occupied territory and do not recognize Zionist sovereignty over it. Young marchers began harassing the few Palestinian shopkeepers who had yet to shutter their stores ahead of the rally in the walled Old City of East Jerusalem shortly after midday, a Reuters witness said. The marchers, mostly young Zionist settlers who lived in the occupied West Bank, then began to target left-wing activists from the Zionist entity and journalists observing the rally. JERUSALEM: Right-wing activists hold up a banner reading in Hebrew "67 - Jerusalem in our hands; 2025 - Gaza in our hands" as they gather with Zionist entity flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day. — AFP photos The demonstrators shouted anti-Arab and anti-Islamic slogans, chanting: 'Death to Arabs'. A Palestinian woman and journalists were spat on by a group of settlers, and nearby Zionist entity police did not intervene, the Reuters witness said. Police officials did not respond to a request for comment. No arrests were reported as of late afternoon. A police officer at the scene said young Zionist marchers could not be arrested because they were under the age of 18. Moshe, a 35-year-old Zionist entity settler from the West Bank and supporter of the current right-wing government, walked through a Palestinian neighborhood of the Old City with a rifle slung over his shoulder and his daughter on his shoulders. It was a 'very happy day' because all of Jerusalem was 'under the government of (the Zionist entity,' he said, declining to give his last name. Left-wing opposition leader Yair Golan, a former armed forces deputy commander, described images of violence in the Old City as 'shocking'. He said in a statement: "This is not what loving Jerusalem looks like. This is what hatred, racism and bullying look like." "We will keep Jerusalem united, whole, and under (Zionist entity) sovereignty," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting held in East Jerusalem earlier on Monday. A spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency based in the West Bank condemned the march and Ben Gvir's visit to Al-Aqsa. The Gaza genocide, "repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and provocative acts such as raising the (Zionist occupation's) flag in occupied Jerusalem threaten the stability of the entire region," Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement. Clashes flared throughout the day as left-wing activists, who are Zionist entity citizens, intervened to escort Palestinians away from young far-right Zionist Jews threatening passersby, witnesses said. Journalists covering the rally were repeatedly harassed and in some instances assaulted, the Reuters witness said. Ben Gvir in Al-Aqsa Earlier, Ben Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the walled Old City - the third holiest site in Islam. Ben Gvir said in a video filmed at the elevated compound that the site was being flooded by Jews. "Today, thank God, it is already possible to pray on the Temple Mount,' he said. Under a decades-old arrangement, the compound is administered by a Jordanian Islamic trust. Jews, who regard the compound as the site of two ancient temples, are allowed to visit but not pray there. Ben Gvir, whose visit was condemned by the Palestinian Authority and Jordan - has along with others long pushed for Jewish prayer rights at the site. This year's Flag March again coincided with the Gaza genocide, now in its 20th month, and escalating Zionist military attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. Settler attacks targeting Palestinian residents are also on the rise. — Reuters
Middle East Eye
5 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Smotrich calls for 'rebuilding temple' during Jerusalem Day celebrations
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the rebuilding of a Jewish temple on the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque and for the expansion of Israel's borders and Jewish settlements in Gaza. In speech addressing crowds at a Jerusalem Day rally on Monday, which celebrates Israel's occupation of the old city of Jerusalem, Smotrich also called for 'complete redemption' and reconstruction of 'the Temple here,' referring to Al-Aqsa Mosque, which settlers had raided earlier. 'We are conquering the Land of Israel, liberating Gaza, settling Gaza and defeating the enemy,' Smotrich said to crowds that had chanted 'death to Arabs' as they marched through Jerusalem's Old City and attacked Palestinians. 'With God's help, we will expand Israel's borders, bring about complete redemption, and rebuild the Temple here,' he said. Smotrich also reiterated his calls for Jewish settlement in Gaza, declaring that 'Israel is not afraid of the word occupation'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'Some people are afraid of victory. We are not afraid of victory,' he said. 'Lets give strength to our brave and heroic fighters'. 'Are we afraid of victory? Are we afraid of the word occupation?' Smotrich demanded, to which the crowd responded with a resounding 'no'. Smotrich has long advocated for extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and across the Middle East as part of his vision of a 'Greater Israel'. Earlier this month, Smotrich vowed that 'Gaza will be entirely destroyed' and its Palestinian population will 'leave in great numbers to third countries'. He also declared that Israel would 'apply sovereignty' in the occupied West Bank before the next Israeli general elections in October 2026. 'Within a few months, we will be able to declare that we have won. Gaza will be totally destroyed,' Smotrich said. 'In another six months, Hamas won't exist as a functioning entity.'
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Live updates: Palestinians in Gaza are increasingly desperate for food
Palestinians have become increasingly desperate for food as nearly three months of Israeli border closures have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine. It was still not clear Wednesday if Israeli forces, private contractors or others opened fire when a crowd overran a new Israeli and U.S.-backed aid distribution site a day earlier. Gaza's Health Ministry said Wednesday that at least one Palestinian was killed and 48 were wounded . Israel has vowed to seize control of Gaza and fight until Hamas is destroyed or disarmed and exiled, and until the militant group returns the remaining 58 hostages. Around a third of them are believed to be alive. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the 2023 attack. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed around 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Here's the latest: Hostage families mark 600 days since their loved ones were taken captive The relatives of Israelis held in Gaza, along with some former hostages, pleaded for release of the remaining captives taken during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Some 58 captives remain, about a third of whom Israel believes are still alive. 'The most important thing is human life and that our citizens return home,' said Luis Har, who was help captive and rescued in an Israeli military mission last year. He spoke at a press conference in Tel Aviv marking 600 days. Later Wednesday, the families and their supporters will hold a rally at an area that's become known as Hostages Square to mark the milestone. Hamas captured roughly 250 people during its 2023 attack. Most have been freed in ceasefire deals. Netanyahu says Israel killed senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel killed senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar , apparently confirming his death in a recent airstrike in the Gaza Strip. Speaking before parliament on Wednesday, Netanyahu included Sinwar in a list of Hamas leaders killed by Israel in the war-battered enclave . Mohammed is the brother of Yahya Sinwar , the Hamas leader and one of the masterminds of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, who was killed by Israeli forces last year. UAE slams Israeli march with chants of 'Death to Arabs' in Jerusalem The United Arab Emirates has summoned the Israeli ambassador on Wednesday to condemn the violence and incitement against Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City during an annual march marking Israel's annexation of the eastern part of the city. 'These provocative, arbitrary practices represent dangerous incitement against Muslims, and are a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holy city,' the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Throngs of ultranationalist Israeli Jews made their way Monday through Muslim neighborhoods of Jerusalem's Old City dancing, banging on homes, and chanting 'Death to Arabs' and singing 'May your village burn.' The march often becomes a rowdy and sometimes violent procession of hardline Jews. Four years ago, it helped set off an 11-day war in Gaza. The UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel in a U.S.-brokered deal in 2020, the first of the so-called Abraham Accords that Israel eventually concluded with four Arab nations. French and Indonesian presidents discuss Israel and the crisis in Gaza Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto praised France's backing of a two-state solution in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and echoed Emmanuel Macron 's calls for an immediate cessation of armed activities in Gaza as well as full humanitarian access to the enclave. 'I am aware of all the emotions raised by this war and the questions sometimes raised about the position of Europe and France,' Macron said, 'And I want to say here that France does not accept double standards.' He added that France will soon organize, with Saudi Arabia, a conference on Gaza at the U.N. in New York, to give a new impetus to the recognition of a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israel. Indonesia has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Once the Palestinian state is recognized by Israel, 'Indonesia is ready to recognize Israel,' Subianto said. Israel hits the airport in Yemen's capital held by Iran-backed rebels Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday's strikes destroyed the last plane used by the Houthi rebels, while the rebel-run al-Masirah TV said they had targeted a plane from the country's flagship carrier Yemenia. The strikes came after Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired several missiles at Israel in recent days, without causing casualties. The Houthis have targeted Israel throughout the war in Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians. The Houthi missiles have mostly been intercepted, although some have penetrated Israel's missile defense systems , causing casualties and damage. Israel last struck the airport in Sanaa on May 6, destroying the airport's terminal and leaving its runway riddled with craters. Some flights resumed to Sanaa on May 17. A controversial new aid distribution system The distribution hub outside Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah were chaos erupted on Tuesday was opened by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation . The foundation is taking over the handling of desperately needed aid under a new, U.S. and Israeli-backed system despite concerns raised about the group from the United Nations and the recent resignation of its executive director. The U.N. and other humanitarian organizations have rejected the new system, saying it won't be able to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.3 million people and allows Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population. They have also warned of the risk of friction between Israeli troops and people seeking supplies. Spokesman says the UN has nothing to do with the new aid system Stephane Dujarric says the United Nations has not nothing to do with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's aid distribution because its plan does not comply with U,N. humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality in delivering aid — which apply from Gaza to Sudan to Myanmar and dozens of other countries. Dujarric said on Tuesday that it is 'an arduous process' to coordinate with Israeli authorities to get U.N. trucks to the loading area to pick up aid, and to determine if roads for the trucks to traverse are safe. 'We're still trying — desperately trying — to deliver aid based on our system that has worked … and it's very challenging,' he said
AU Financial Review
6 days ago
- Politics
- AU Financial Review
Israelis chant ‘death to Arabs' in major far-right march
Jerusalem | Young far-right Israelis marched through Jerusalem chanting 'death to Arabs' in an annual protest that descended into chaos on Monday (Tuesday AEST) as groups confronted and assaulted Palestinians, witnesses said. The annual 'Flag March' marking Israel's conquest of the eastern part of the city drew tens of thousands of people, chanting and waving Israeli flags after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Al Aqsa mosque compound, a longtime flashpoint of Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: Israeli nationalists march through Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Jews chanting 'Death to Arabs' made their way through Muslim neighborhoods of Jerusalem's Old City on Monday as part of an annual 'Jerusalem Day" march. The procession marks Israel's conquest of the eastern part of the city including the Old City and its holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Mideast war. The event threatened to inflame tensions that are rife in the city after nearly 600 days of war in Gaza. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
