GAZA, 08 June 2021, (TON): Israeli police on Monday announced that it got cancelled a planned flag bearer procession by Jewish nationalists through parts of Jerusalem's Old City, following warnings that it could reignite tensions that led to a punishing 11-day war against Gaza's Palestinians led by Hamas last month.

The parade, which celebrates Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, was underway on 10 June in East Jerusalem. The parade is traditionally held on Jerusalem Day on 10 May to commemorate the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in June 1967 following the Six-Day War from 5 to 10 June 1967. However, last month’s parade was rescheduled due to clashes between police and Palestinian protesters and subsequently cancelled after the recent cross-border conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian representatives Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier in May celebrations could not be held as Palestinian representative leadership in Gaza, Hamas retaliated Israeli arrests and eviction of Gaza and fired rockets toward the holy city, setting off heavy fighting. According to Israeli estimates some 254 people were killed in Gaza and 13 in Israel before a cease-fire took effect on 21 May 2021.