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Large crowds of young Israeli nationalists marched through the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City, intimidating, and in some cases attacking, Palestinian merchants and journalists as they celebrated Jerusalem Day in the traditional way.

This annual celebration commemorates the capture of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces during the Six-Day War of 1967. In recent years it has taken the form of a rally of right-wing religious Israelis, with songs and anti-Palestinian slogans becoming common.

After gathering at the entrance to the Old City through the Damascus Gate, the protesters, mostly young people, many of them wearing religious clothing and others carrying Israeli flags, passed through the gate and headed toward a place known as the Islamic Quarter, near the Western Wall, the most sacred place where Jews can pray.

Videos recorded or obtained by CNN show groups of young men intimidating traders. Other videos show them shouting “Death to the Arabs” and “Burn the villages,” referring to Palestinian homes. Another video shows a group of young men singing and dancing on the grounds of the Aqsa Mosque, where Jews can visit but not pray.

A CNN crew outside the Damascus Gate saw bottles and sticks being thrown at the television crew. An Israeli journalist working for the Haaretz newspaper said he was part of a group of about ten people who were knocked to the ground and kicked by nationalists. Police intervened and took him and the others to safety.

Eighteen people were arrested on suspicion of violent crimes, assault, threats and disorderly conduct, according to police.

Two political figures of the Israeli far-right, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, attended the rally, which comes as Israel’s war in Gaza nears its ninth month.

Ben Gvir told the crowd they were delivering a message to Hamas: “Jerusalem is ours, the Damascus Gate is ours, the Temple Mount is ours, and with God’s help, total victory will be ours,” he said, referring to the holiest site in Judaism, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and the location of the Aqsa Mosque.

A statement by Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh underscored Jerusalem’s unique status in the broader, decades-long conflict, saying the nationalists’ actions demonstrated that “Jerusalem is the core of the conflict,” and that “our people will not rest until the occupation is over and the independent Palestinian state is established with its capital in Jerusalem.”

Three years ago, on Jerusalem Day itself and after weeks of tension in the city, Hamas began an 11-day war with Israel by launching six rockets at Jerusalem, setting off air raid sirens for the first time in years.