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.