Tens of Thousands March in Jerusalem's Old City to Mark 1967 Reunification as Regional Conflicts Continue

Tens of thousands of Israeli celebrants marched through Jerusalem's Old City on Friday, an annual event that Jerusalem captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. BBC Middle East correspondent Lucy Williamson spent the day on the ground observing the commemorations in the ancient streets. Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by the UK.

The annual march through Jerusalem's Old City is frequently accompanied by racist chants and violence towards Palestinian residents and businesses. Williamson's reporting captured both the scale of the Israeli gathering and the tensions that have marked the event in past years.

In the West Bank, thousands of people took part in the Palestine Marathon, which returned to Bethlehem after a two-year pause over the Gaza War.

The resumption brought runners back to streets that had been empty of the event since the conflict began. President Trump suspended Project Freedom after two days. BBC Verify explained the timeline of the suspension of the operation intended to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The move came as Iran maintained pressure on the critical waterway. The United Arab Emirates is quitting Opec after nearly 60 years of membership. The departure ends a long alliance within the oil cartel and raises questions about future production coordination.

Iranian authorities have imposed an internet ban. BBC special correspondent Fergal Keane heard from civilians inside Iran struggling with the impact of war, including trauma from conflict and government repression despite the communications blackout. Pro-government demonstrators gathered in Tehran after the announcement of the two-week conditional ceasefire between the US and Iran.

The gatherings reflected domestic support for the agreement even as ordinary Iranians faced daily hardships. In Syria, eyewitnesses captured the moment a burning fuel tanker drove through the centre of Hasakah, leaving a trail of fire behind it. The dramatic scene underscored the chaos persisting in parts of the country amid broader regional instability.

Israel expanded its ground operation in Lebanon. More than one million people in Lebanon have been displaced since the start of the war. BBC Middle East Correspondent Hugo Bachega heard from people affected by this week's attacks in Beirut, including families who described losing their homes.

At least 10 people were killed and 27 injured in an Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. Hundreds in Beirut mourned journalists killed in an Israeli strike as funerals took place for three journalists killed by a targeted attack in southern Lebanon. Bachega spoke with a mother of twins who said her home was bombed in Lebanon.

"Our home is gone," one displaced person told the BBC amid the widespread destruction. The strikes have left entire neighbourhoods in shock as residents attempt to heal.