• Thousands of Israeli nationalists participated in the Jerusalem Day march, chanting "Death to Arabs."
• The event often leads to confrontations between ultra-nationalist participants and Palestinian residents.
• Tensions remain high as the event occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza.
• Israeli police were present but accused of not intervening during acts of harassment and violence.
• High-profile representatives, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, participated and made controversial statements during the event.

On Jerusalem Day, thousands of Israeli nationalists marched through the Old City, chanting slogans such as "Death to Arabs" and "May your village burn." The march commemorates Israel's capture of east Jerusalem during the 1967 war, often escalating tensions in the region even amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has lasted nearly 600 days. Previous years have seen violent incidents tied to this event, including assaults on Palestinian journalists and residents, according to Indiatimes, Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, BBC, Los Angeles Times, SCMP, and Dawn.

The march is characterized by rows of participants waving Israeli flags and chanting inflammatory slogans that threaten the safety of Palestinian residents in the area. In recent years, nationalistic fervor has turned violent, prompting Palestinian shopkeepers to close early in anticipation of confrontations. This year, the presence of police was increased, yet many eyewitnesses claimed that law enforcement failed to intervene during acts of harassment, which included young marchers verbally assaulting and spitting on Palestinian bystanders, as reported by Middle East Eye and Dawn.

Prominent figures such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, participated, and was seen making provocative statements during the protests. He, along with other right-wing lawmakers, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound—a site of heightened tension—during the march, claiming that the event marked a holiday for Jerusalem and calling for an erosion of the current restrictions on Jewish prayer at the site. Such provocations have historically incited violence in the region, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

The march concluded with further violent skirmishes as activists from the left attempted to shield Palestinians from harassment by the right-wing participants. The event is a representation of the deep-seated animosities in Jerusalem, a city claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis, each holding significant historical and religious ties to the area, as reported by BBC, SCMP, and Dawn.