JERUSALEM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Crowds of young far-right Israeli activists attacked Palestinians in East Jerusalem's Old City on Monday as they marched through the narrow streets to mark Israel's occupation of the eastern part of the city.

The annual event, known as the "Flag March," drew mainly ultranationalist religious Jewish youths who waved Israeli flags and blew horns as they passed through the Old City's Muslim Quarter on their way to the Western Wall.

Videos posted on social media showed dozens of Israeli participants chanting "Death to Arabs," "May your village burn," and "Revenge," while pushing, insulting, and spitting at Palestinian men and women.

The parade was held under heavy police presence, with "thousands" of police officers, Border Police troops, and volunteers securing the event, according to a police statement.

"Several suspects have been arrested for involvement in violent incidents during the Jerusalem Day events," police said. Two ultra-Orthodox men were detained for spraying pepper spray at Palestinian passersby, it added.

The march is the central event of "Jerusalem Day," an annual commemoration of what Israel calls the "reunification" of the city. This year marks 58 years since Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East War, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It later annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally.