Land Day: Palestinians rally against Israeli theft of their land

Palestinians have held rallies to commemorate the 47th anniversary of Land Day, in honor of the struggle against Israeli settler-apartheid oppression and the call for freedom, justice and equality.

People in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East al-Quds took to the streets on Thursday to mark the event that takes place on March 30 every year.

In the Gaza Strip, protesters gathered near the fence that separates the besieged enclave from the Occupied Territories as Israeli troops fired live bullets and tear gas canisters. According to local sources, five Palestinians were injured, three of them with live bullets, two with gas bombs, and hundreds suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Land Day marks when on March 30 1967, Palestinians in the Galilee region rose up against Israel's land theft and were confronted by a deadly crackdown by troops who martyred six Palestinians and injured hundreds.

On that day, Palestinians – referred to as "Israeli Arabs" by Israel – declared themselves an inseparable part of the Palestinian people and their struggle.

National unity a necessity

In a conference held during the Gaza festival, Leader of the Islamic Jihad movement, Khalid al-Batch, said in a speech on behalf of the participating factions, “National unity is a necessity in light of the changes taking place in the Palestinian territories and the world."

Al-Batch warned of Israeli attempts to "erase Palestinian cities in the West Bank.”

“The eternal Land Day this year comes at the height of the fierce Zionist attacks against our people through persecution, demolition, displacement and siege. I warn the enemy of the wrath of our revolution and our resistance,” he said.

The Islamic Jihad chief pointed out that the Israeli approval of "the formation of a special guard will mainly target the Palestinians, and will lead to more innocent bloodshed.”

ME