Some 5,000 Israelis took part in a flag march in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening after it was postponed on May 10, Jerusalem Day, due to a security escalation.
The marchers walked down a new route agreed upon with police, beginning with the Street of the Prophets, passing through Sultan Suleiman Street and Damascus Gate, where the flag dance was held, and continuing on to Jaffa Gate and the Western Wall, according to Kan news. At Jaffa Gate, the marchers split into small groups of 50 and were placed under heavy security to avoid clashes with Arab residents, reported Ynet.
Calls for “Death to the Arabs” were heard by some in the Jewish crowd.
Kan also reported a number of fires in southern Israel caused by incendiary devices attached to balloons and flown across the Gaza border.
Meanwhile, Israel sent messages to Egypt stating that the march had changed its route so as not to provoke Muslim sentiments, according to Ynet. The diplomatic messaging said Israel expected Egypt to reign in Hamas to avoid a security deterioration. Israel Police also sent messages of calm to local Israeli Arab leaders.