Israel Foils Hamas Terror Attack in Jerusalem as Thousands Take Part in Patriotic Flag March
“Tens of thousands of marchers gather in the capital garbed in the national colors to celebrate the reunification of the city after the 1967 Six Day War.”
Nearly a week after Hamas threatened Israel over the patriotic Jerusalem March, the Israeli security forces arrested an operative affiliated with the jihadist group planning to carry out a terrorist attack in the Holy City. The terrorist, a resident of the West Bank, was nabbed along with an M16 assault rifle — a day ahead of Thursday’s flag march.
The annual flag march celebrates Israel’s taking control of the Old City and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. This year’s event drew thousands of patriotic Israelis to Jerusalem, the Holy City and the capital of the Jewish State. “Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem as the Jerusalem Day flag march took off from the center of the city and headed toward the Old City on Thursday,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
The Israeli TV channel i24NEWS reported the foiled Hamas terror plot:
The Shin Bet and soldiers of the undercover unit of the Border Police in Jerusalem “worked to arrest a Hamas operative from Ramallah who was planning to carry out an attack,” the police spokesperson’s statement said.
The operation was carried out on Wednesday morning. Based on “accurate intelligence” from the Shin Bet, Israeli soldiers arrested the suspect when he arrived “to receive a military weapon for terrorist attacks.” (…)
Hamas has earlier issued threats against the traditional flag march that takes place on Jerusalem Day. Salah al-Bardawil, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement, “The Zionist flag march will not pass, and the response will inevitably come.”
The terrorist attack was thwarted less than four days after the Israel Defense Forces ended a military operation that eliminated several top commanders and operatives of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) based in Gaza. The IDF operation responded to recent terrorist attacks and continued rocket fire from Hamas-run Gaza.
A photo circulated on social media by #Palestinian extremists ahead of the Flag March today in #Jerusalem.
Moments ago, a rocket from Gaza was fired towards Israel as a warning. #JerusalemDay pic.twitter.com/ytLEUj7dD3
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) May 18, 2023
Israeli Police: ‘Iran inciting terrorism against marchers’
On Wednesday, the Israeli police warned that Iran and its proxy terrorist groups are inciting acts of terror against the march participants.
The Israeli news website Ynet reported:
Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai warned Wednesday night ahead of the Flag March scheduled to take place Thursday in Jerusalem, that “terrorist elements motivated by Iran, through Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, are sowing false information on social networks about the route of the Flag March – and their purpose is to create wild incitement to terrorism against the thousands of Israelis who will mark Jerusalem Day with a series of events.”
Palestinian terrorist and their supporters tried to stir up tension, posting misleading social media posts and fake videos to provoke Arab unrest, the Israeli police noted Wednesday.
“While routine and peace are maintained in Jerusalem, the Old City and the Temple Mount – there are those who continue incitement, provocations, and publishing fake news on social networks,” the Israeli police said in a statement obtained by the Legal Insurrection.
“In recent hours, we have witnessed the continuation of incitement attempts on social networks, along with old videos and documents that are out of context,” the statement added.
Israeli flags ‘Judaize’ Jerusalem: Enraged Hamas Threatens Jerusalem Day Marchers
Last week, Hamas threatened that it “will not allow the Zionist occupation to implement plans to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem through division…or flag parades.”
On Wednesday, the Gaza-based terrorist group renewed its threats, urging Palestinians to stage attacks on Israeli security forces and those taking part in the march.
“We ask the people of Jerusalem to mobilize the masses to confront the march of the flags in Jerusalem tomorrow,” Hamas said Wednesday in a statement published by the AP News. The terrorist group urged the Palestinians in Jerusalem to “clash with the occupation,” a dog whistle for attacks on Israeli police and civilians.
Let the festivities begin!!
Happy #JerusalemDay!
56 years since our Holy City was reunited.
Thanks to @Israel people of all faiths are free to dance, pray, celebrate and march in the streets of our capital city. pic.twitter.com/zNdqHmiBUV— Eli Lipshitz 🇮🇱 (@EliLipshitz) May 18, 2023
Defying terrorist threats, thousands of Israeli patriots march in Jerusalem
Despite repeated terrorist threats, thousands of Israelis turned out for the Jerusalem Day March. “Tens of thousands of marchers gather in the capital garbed in the national colors to celebrate the reunification of the city after the 1967 Six Day War,” the Ynet noted Thursday afternoon.
56 years ago today, after 2,000 years, Jerusalem 🇮🇱 was reunified as the capital of Israel and the Jewish People.
Since then, the city has become a symbol of faith and diversity.
Today, thousands of Israelis are celebrating #JerusalemDay with a festival parade in the city… pic.twitter.com/pci5XSfOtj
— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) May 18, 2023
Israeli government ministers and lawmakers joined the thousands of flag-waving marchers as they passed through the streets of Jerusalem.
The Times of Israel reported:
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads a delegation from his Religious Zionism party in joining the Flag March at the Old City in Jerusalem.
Smotrich is joined by MKs Simcha Rothman, Michal Woldiger, Zvi Sukkot and Ohad Tal.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is also at the event along with a number of Otzma Yehudit MKs, as is Likud MK Yuli Edelstein.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the traditional march and refused to change its route, despite threats and pressure from Palestinian groups. “The flag march will continue as planned, as usual, on its route,” the Israel prime minister said Monday.
Some anti-Israel agitators tried to block a road and prevent people from participating in the event.
Anti-Israel bigots are blocking the road from Gush Etzion to Jerusalem to prevent us from celebrating Jerusalem Day in the capital.
A word for all those who need context:
Gush Etzion was founded in 1943. It fell to the Jordan Legion the day before Israel was established. Its… pic.twitter.com/HRM5ExcOUn— Caroline Glick (@CarolineGlick) May 18, 2023
Gazans riot over Jerusalem March
The news of Israelis marching through their capital angered Hamas and PIJ-supporting Gazans, who hurled explosives at Israel’s border security forces.
The Times of Israel reported Thursday afternoon:
The Israel Defense Forces says Palestinians in the Gaza Strip violently protesting along the border with Israel hurled explosive devices toward the security barrier.
No soldiers are hurt during the riots.
The IDF says troops responded with riot dispersal means and live fire.
Learn more about Jerusalem Day
In 2016, William A. Jacobson witnessed Jerusalem Day and noted in his post how “tens of thousands of people stream into the city for the march towards the Western Wall (See the post here).
Prof. Miriam Elman wrote an insightful post in 2015 explaining the historical and cultural significance of the day. Read here post titled “Five Reasons to Celebrate Jerusalem Day.”
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I was in Gush Etzion a few days ago and saw a moving presentation about the history. Jews driven out in riots in late 20’s and 30’s. Refugees from WW2 and concentration camp survivors rebuilt in the 40’s. In 1947 they were finally defeated by Jordanian and Arab troops the day before the Jewish state of Israel was declared. The final scenes were displayed overlooking the open bunker in a Lutheran church where many of the surrendered Jews were killed by grenades being thrown in.
The final scene is a group photo of hundreds of relatives of the settlers including children sent to Jerusalem for safety before their parents were killed.
Today the community is large and prosperous with many large and expensive housing developments.
A few hundred yards away is a large Arab coy that is also large and again features a number of expensive homes.
So much for western media coverage which appears to be largely fiction.