Arab Public Marks 26th Anniversary of Jerusalem Uprising with Memorial Visits and March

Arab citizens across Israel are commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Uprising on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The Higher Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens in Israel called for broad participation in memorial events, including visits to martyrs' monuments and a national march.

In Nazareth, residents and a delegation from the Popular Committee visited the memorial for uprising martyrs Omar Akkawi, Iyad Luabneh, and Wissam Yazeek. They laid flowers and recited prayers, with speakers emphasizing the commitment to remembering the uprising amidst difficult national circumstances and the ongoing pain of the martyrs' families.

The Higher Follow-up Committee's call for participation in the march, scheduled for 4 PM in Arraba starting from the Old Mosque, aims to demonstrate a united front against what they describe as a comprehensive assault by authorities. This includes house demolitions, land confiscations, settlement expansion, suppression of political expression, and rising violence within the Arab community.

The committee also condemned the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Arab representation and the Supreme Court's ruling preventing Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the National Democratic Alliance party, from running for office. They urged national unity to counter what they termed a fascist racist campaign targeting all aspects of Arab life, from medical staff to political parties.

The statement concluded with a schedule of visits to various martyrs' monuments and tombs throughout the day, culminating in the march in Arraba. The committee vowed to honor the martyrs' memory and their cause, which they described as the cause of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa, and Palestine, currently facing a severe phase of destruction, displacement, and repression.