٠٠:٠٢:١٨Hundreds of Jewish nationalists ran to find shelter as they heard sirens signalling that rockets were fired by Hamas towards Jerusalem on Monday while they were holding their annual flag parade in honour of Jerusalem day.
"It is a day where we celebrate the reunion of Jerusalem, and unfortunately, the joy is ruined," a marcher said.
"We feel humiliated. Because of one rocket we take our things and go home," said Betzalel, a Jewish nationalist participating in the parade.
This year, Israeli police re-routed the parade, avoiding the area near the Temple Mount where violent clashes with Palestinians took place earlier on Monday.
Worshippers were seen holding large Israeli flags and chanting slogans such as 'Death to Arabs' while marching through the streets.
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel commemorating the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City after the Six-Day War in 1967. It usually sees thousands of religious nationalists holding parades and other celebrations in Jerusalem, including through the Old City on their way to the Western Wall, into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.
"Jerusalem is ours, and it is a shame that during Jerusalem day, we surrender to the riots of the Arabs that every time find a reason not to like us and to hate us," said Shmuel, another Jewish nationalist taking part in the march.
Violence between Israelis and Palestinians escalated on Monday with rockets being fired by both sides following rising tensions fuelled by the possible eviction of Palestinian families from Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.
East Jerusalem: 'The joy is ruined' - Israeli nationalist at Jerusalem Day march reacts to violence escalation
Hundreds of Jewish nationalists ran to find shelter as they heard sirens signalling that rockets were fired by Hamas towards Jerusalem on Monday while they were holding their annual flag parade in honour of Jerusalem day.
"It is a day where we celebrate the reunion of Jerusalem, and unfortunately, the joy is ruined," a marcher said.
"We feel humiliated. Because of one rocket we take our things and go home," said Betzalel, a Jewish nationalist participating in the parade.
This year, Israeli police re-routed the parade, avoiding the area near the Temple Mount where violent clashes with Palestinians took place earlier on Monday.
Worshippers were seen holding large Israeli flags and chanting slogans such as 'Death to Arabs' while marching through the streets.
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel commemorating the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City after the Six-Day War in 1967. It usually sees thousands of religious nationalists holding parades and other celebrations in Jerusalem, including through the Old City on their way to the Western Wall, into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.
"Jerusalem is ours, and it is a shame that during Jerusalem day, we surrender to the riots of the Arabs that every time find a reason not to like us and to hate us," said Shmuel, another Jewish nationalist taking part in the march.
Violence between Israelis and Palestinians escalated on Monday with rockets being fired by both sides following rising tensions fuelled by the possible eviction of Palestinian families from Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.
Hundreds of Jewish nationalists ran to find shelter as they heard sirens signalling that rockets were fired by Hamas towards Jerusalem on Monday while they were holding their annual flag parade in honour of Jerusalem day.
"It is a day where we celebrate the reunion of Jerusalem, and unfortunately, the joy is ruined," a marcher said.
"We feel humiliated. Because of one rocket we take our things and go home," said Betzalel, a Jewish nationalist participating in the parade.
This year, Israeli police re-routed the parade, avoiding the area near the Temple Mount where violent clashes with Palestinians took place earlier on Monday.
Worshippers were seen holding large Israeli flags and chanting slogans such as 'Death to Arabs' while marching through the streets.
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel commemorating the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City after the Six-Day War in 1967. It usually sees thousands of religious nationalists holding parades and other celebrations in Jerusalem, including through the Old City on their way to the Western Wall, into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.
"Jerusalem is ours, and it is a shame that during Jerusalem day, we surrender to the riots of the Arabs that every time find a reason not to like us and to hate us," said Shmuel, another Jewish nationalist taking part in the march.
Violence between Israelis and Palestinians escalated on Monday with rockets being fired by both sides following rising tensions fuelled by the possible eviction of Palestinian families from Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.