Extremist Israeli settlers hold provocative rally in Jerusalem

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Thousands of extremist settlers on Sunday started the annual "flag march" through Jerusalem that regularly stokes Palestinian anger, a year after tensions in the occupied city ignited Israeli aggression across Palestinian territories. 

Across occupied East Jerusalem, many Palestinian flags flew from rooftops ahead of the extremist rally, which began at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) in west Jerusalem.

Earlier Sunday, flag-waving Jewish extremists chanting pro-Israel slogans, among them a far-right lawmaker, visited Al Aqsa Mosque. 

Isolated confrontations also broke out at the Old City's Damascus Gate where dozens of Jewish extremists danced in front of Palestinians, one of whom raised his shoe in an Arab insult.

Islamist movement Hamas warned last week that marchers must not pass through the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, saying it would use all means to confront them.

Far-right nationalist lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir, who was among those who went to Al-Aqsa, later said his visit aimed "to reaffirm that we, the State of Israel, are sovereign" in the Holy City.

Most of the international community does not recognise Israeli control over east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of a future state.