GAZA
Thousands of Palestinians marched Wednesday in Gaza and Al Quds to mark the 65th anniversary of what they call "Al-Nakba" or catastrophe, their forced deportation by Israel in a war following the Jewish state's declaration of independence on May 14, 1948.
Palestinian demonstrators held a protest before the United Nations building in southern Gaza, carrying symbolic keys for their right to return home, maps and flags of Palestine.
The representatives of the Palestinian groups delivered to the UN officials in Gaza a letter containing the demands of the Palestinian refugees for the implementation of international resolutions as part of the right to return home.
Zakariya el-Agha of the Fatah Movement stated "Palestinian people are holding Nakba demonstrations to emphasize they will not make concessions on their right to return to homeland. Palestinians will not give up on their right to return homeland with the passing years and increasing distances."
"Palestinians' right to return to their homeland is the core of the Palestinian issue," noted Hadar Habib, a leader of the Islamic Jihad Movement.
Mariam Abu Decca of the People's Front also said "The key to enable the Palestinian refugees' return to their homeland and make them free is to maintain the national unity in Palestine."
-Israeli police blocked Palestinians' demonstration, detaining 7-
Israeli police intervened in the protest in Al Quds with mounted policemen, using gas bomb and pressurized water and detained 7 demonstrators.
Israeli Security Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AA that 7 demonstrators were arrested and two policemen were wounded and hospitalized.
On the other hand, nearly 100 Palestinian demonstrators in the Palestinian zone of Maaele Adumim in the east of Al Quds unfurled a Palestine flag and planted olive trees on the hill opposite the Jewish settlement.
Waving the big keys in their hand, the Palestinians also held banners saying "Refugee camps: our temporary stopover" and "It's our right and destiny to return."
Despite the ongoing extensive security measures taken in Al Quds by the Israeli police, the tension continues at the Damascus Gate.
