Near Damascus Gate, members of the Jewish-Palestinian movement Standing Together handed out flowers, greeted residents in Arabic and positioned themselves near Palestinian shops and neighbourhoods as thousands of nationalist marchers carrying Israeli flags prepared to enter the Old City.
Israeli police deployed large security forces along the route, including barriers, mounted officers and reinforced patrols. Many Palestinian owned shops closed early over fears of unrest, while several roads leading to the Old City, including areas around Jaffa Road and the city gates, were sealed from mid-afternoon.
