GAZA CITY (Dispatches) –
Zionist troops have used live fire and tear gas against Palestinians who joined a demonstration on the besieged Gaza Strip’s east, injuring several Palestinians, as far-right Zionists held a so-called ‘flag march’ in occupied East Al-Quds’ Old City.
Hundreds of Palestinians joined the protest, which was called for by Palestinian factions in response to the Zionist march. The Gaza demonstration condemned the ‘flag march’ in Al-Quds, and called for an end to the regime’s attacks in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Osama Abu Qamar, a 50-year-old resident of Gaza’s Jabaliya camp, told Al Jazeera that he had come to participate in the march to protest against the provocative march in Al-Quds, where far-right Zionists forced the closure of several Palestinian throughfares in the city as they chanted abusive slogans and waved Zionist flags.
The event, which is held annually to mark the occupation and annexation of East Al-Quds, has led to violence in recent years.
Similar protests were also held in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus in support of Al-Quds.
The annual flag march marks the Zionist regime’s occupation of the West Bank and Al-Quds in 1967. It is organized by far-right settlers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Al-Quds.
The march is also an attempt by Zionist settlers to slam what they call the Tel Aviv regime’s failure to deal with the Palestinians and affirm their presence in the occupied Palestinian city and its holy sites.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) earlier warned that holding the demonstration would fuel tensions in the occupied territories and Israel will be fully responsible for any possible escalation.
A spokesman for the Islamic Jihad movement also said the regime cannot defeat Palestinians through these measures.
He said the Palestinians’ fight against the regime won’t stop unless Israel is wiped off the map.
Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Hamas resistance movement, commented on the issue as well.
He said the regime’s massive deployment of security forces to Al-Quds shows it is fearful of acts of resistance by Palestinians.