National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday, just before the annual Jerusalem Day flag march was set to begin.

During his tour, Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag and boldly stated that the Temple Mount is "in our hands." He emphasized that he had reinstated sovereignty there through firm resolve and effective deterrence, as tensions simmered ahead of the march.

Later that afternoon, Israel Police revealed they had apprehended a suspect plotting a terror attack to coincide with the Jerusalem Day celebrations.

Acting on intelligence tips, officers tracked the individual to a carwash, where they took him into custody. He was then handed over to the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, for questioning.

Left-wing activists confront youths and settlers

Earlier in the day, tensions boiled over in Jerusalem's Old City, with activists from various political backgrounds engaging in scuffles prior to the flag march.

In one incident, a group of young people argued heatedly with Old City residents and members of the left-wing Standing Together movement, even hurling chairs in the confrontation.

Police escorted the left-wing group out of the area during an event they described as a "solidarity guard," aimed at shielding local Arabs and Palestinians from potential violence linked to the march.

Standing Together stated their presence was to protect Palestinian Old City dwellers from "extremist settlers" during the procession.

Social media footage captured flag march participants chanting "May your village burn" while passing through the Old City.

Authorities shut down several Jerusalem roads that afternoon but planned to lift restrictions as the march advanced.

In total, police detained 13 individuals - both Jews and Arabs - following the day's disturbances.

Days earlier, Democratic MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv had cautioned Israel Police about heightened dangers to Jerusalem's non-Jewish communities during this year's flag march.

Kariv pointed to recent racist assaults on Christians and the march's track record of sparking disorder in the Muslim Quarter as reasons for concern.