02:48Palestinian protesters had altercations with Israeli police outside the Damascus Gate, in East Jerusalem on Thursday, as police tried to disperse the crowd which gathered to prevent right-wing member of Knesset, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from entering the old city.
Footage showed police surrounding Ben-Gvir and his supporters to prevent them from reaching the gate, due to the ban on the 'Flag March', while he held an Israeli flag as a sign of protest. Something hitting the head of a photographer taking a photo of Ben-Gvir could be seen.
Palestinian demonstrators were seen chanting slogans, some held the Palestinian flag, before facing an onslaught of tear-gas projectiles. 11 demonstrators were reportedly arrested.
The 'Flag March,' which marks Jerusalem Day and is overseen by Israeli nationalists annually on May 10, involves participants celebrating the capture of East Jerusalem in the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War. The march is now expected to go ahead on June 15.
Plans for the march to take place with the original route were initially approved, but then postponed to Tuesday, three days after the planned swearing in of the new unity government. Members of Knesset, Ben-Gvir and May Golan announced they would go ahead with a march through the Muslim Quarter on Thursday. Police after refused to authorise their plans, giving security concerns as the reason.
This year's march saw a route change out of security fears due to heightened tensions over planned evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem and riots between Palestinians and Israeli forces in Al-Aqsa compound.
In a press conference earlier in the week, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya issued a warning of retaliation if the march goes ahead.
East Jerusalem: Tear gas flies as protesters against 'Flag March' dispersed from Damascus Gate
Palestinian protesters had altercations with Israeli police outside the Damascus Gate, in East Jerusalem on Thursday, as police tried to disperse the crowd which gathered to prevent right-wing member of Knesset, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from entering the old city.
Footage showed police surrounding Ben-Gvir and his supporters to prevent them from reaching the gate, due to the ban on the 'Flag March', while he held an Israeli flag as a sign of protest. Something hitting the head of a photographer taking a photo of Ben-Gvir could be seen.
Palestinian demonstrators were seen chanting slogans, some held the Palestinian flag, before facing an onslaught of tear-gas projectiles. 11 demonstrators were reportedly arrested.
The 'Flag March,' which marks Jerusalem Day and is overseen by Israeli nationalists annually on May 10, involves participants celebrating the capture of East Jerusalem in the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War. The march is now expected to go ahead on June 15.
Plans for the march to take place with the original route were initially approved, but then postponed to Tuesday, three days after the planned swearing in of the new unity government. Members of Knesset, Ben-Gvir and May Golan announced they would go ahead with a march through the Muslim Quarter on Thursday. Police after refused to authorise their plans, giving security concerns as the reason.
This year's march saw a route change out of security fears due to heightened tensions over planned evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem and riots between Palestinians and Israeli forces in Al-Aqsa compound.
In a press conference earlier in the week, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya issued a warning of retaliation if the march goes ahead.
Palestinian protesters had altercations with Israeli police outside the Damascus Gate, in East Jerusalem on Thursday, as police tried to disperse the crowd which gathered to prevent right-wing member of Knesset, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from entering the old city.
Footage showed police surrounding Ben-Gvir and his supporters to prevent them from reaching the gate, due to the ban on the 'Flag March', while he held an Israeli flag as a sign of protest. Something hitting the head of a photographer taking a photo of Ben-Gvir could be seen.
Palestinian demonstrators were seen chanting slogans, some held the Palestinian flag, before facing an onslaught of tear-gas projectiles. 11 demonstrators were reportedly arrested.
The 'Flag March,' which marks Jerusalem Day and is overseen by Israeli nationalists annually on May 10, involves participants celebrating the capture of East Jerusalem in the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War. The march is now expected to go ahead on June 15.
Plans for the march to take place with the original route were initially approved, but then postponed to Tuesday, three days after the planned swearing in of the new unity government. Members of Knesset, Ben-Gvir and May Golan announced they would go ahead with a march through the Muslim Quarter on Thursday. Police after refused to authorise their plans, giving security concerns as the reason.
This year's march saw a route change out of security fears due to heightened tensions over planned evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem and riots between Palestinians and Israeli forces in Al-Aqsa compound.
In a press conference earlier in the week, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya issued a warning of retaliation if the march goes ahead.