A viral social media video shows an Iranian man setting the Israeli flag on fire, only to catch the fire himself.
The man can be then seen running out of the frame with his clothes ablaze while people try to avoid coming in contact with the person.
Watch: A man in Iran catches on fire while burning an Israeli flag during a Quds Day protest. https://t.co/qv4NUU1OEE pic.twitter.com/9q0Cv6W7zI
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 9, 2021
The video reportedly originated from the al-Quds Day protest. Also known as ‘Jerusalem Day’ initiated by Iran in 1979, during the day, people in Iran express opposition to Zionism and Israel’s occupation in the West Bank.
It is worth mentioning that the day is named Al-Quds as Quds is the Arabic Name for Jerusalem. It is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, on the last Friday(Jumma Tul Wida) of Ramazan every year. Similarly, it happened on Friday, 7th May this year.
In a speech this year, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called Israel “not a country, but a terrorist base” and said its downfall was imminent.
Read More: Iran’s Khamenei calls Israel a terrorist base
“Fighting this despotic regime… is everyone’s duty,” Khamenei said in live televised remarks.
This falls close to Israel’s own Jerusalem Day, celebrated this year on May 10, which marks Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem and the Old City during the 1967 Six-Day War.
This war was when the Egyptian and other Arabian nations led an arguably failed war against Israel, and rather than losing the ground, Israel expanded four times its size to capture important areas like Sanai and Golan Heights.
Despite virus restrictions, a number of people came out “spontaneously” in the capital Tehran, state TV said, showing the usual burning of unrecognized state’s flags and chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
In a briefing ahead of Jerusalem Day, Jerusalem Police District Commander Doron Turgeman said a decision on whether to allow Jews on the Temple Mount will be made Monday.
“We’re prepared for any scenario,” he was quoted as saying by the Ynet news site.
Read More: Jordan takes stand against Israel’s ‘barbaric’ attacks on Al Aqsa mosque
Tensions have risen between Israel and Iran, with the countries blaming each other for recent attacks on each other’s ships that have caused damage, but no injuries or sinking.
In addition, Iran has also blamed Israel for an explosion at a key nuclear facility that reportedly caused significant damage, but no injuries, by knocking out power systems.
Tensions have mounted in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid growing anger about the potential eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem homes on land claimed by Jewish settlers.
Dozens of Palestinians have been injured in Israeli police crackdown on protesters outside the Old City of Jerusalem as tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers prayed at the nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque on Islam’s holy night of Laylat al-Qadr.
At least 90 people were injured on Saturday, the Palestine Red Crescent said, a day after Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa and injured more than 200 Palestinians. Israeli police said at least one officer was hurt.
Read More: Israel kick-starting a grand plan to rebuild the 3rd Temple?