GAZA, Palestine

Hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have gathered at the Israeli security fence to take part in the 80th consecutive Friday of weekly anti-occupation protests known as the Great March of Return.

Protesters from across the Gaza Strip headed to the eastern areas of the coastal enclave, carrying anti-occupation banners and Palestinian flags.

The Higher National Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking of the Siege of Gaza, formed by Palestinian factions, named this Friday's rallies, [Our prisoners, our al-Aqsa Mosque, we are coming].

"These demonstrations reflect how our causes are rooted in the hearts of our people and reflect, as well, how they are ready to fight for these sacred causes [the prisoners and the al-Aqsa Mosque]," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the Hamas Movement.

Almost 270 protesters have been martyred -- and thousands more wounded -- by Israeli forces at the security fence areas with Gaza since the Gaza rallies began in March last year.

Demonstrators demand an end to Israel’s 12-year-old blockade to the Gaza Strip, which has shattered the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its 2 million inhabitants of free movement in and out from Gaza and prevented many basic amenities.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara