Palestinians prepare for Land Day with ‘Great March of Return’

Palestine

Published: 2018-03-28 11:55

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 20:47


The “Great Return March” logo. (Facebook)
The “Great Return March” logo. (Facebook)

Palestinian national and Islamic factions in Ramallah and Gaza have called Palestinians to participate in the six-week long series of protests called the “Great March of Return” that will be held starting Friday, March 30, 2018, commemorating the Land Day, according to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC).

Land Day marks the expropriation of thousands of dunams belonging to Palestinians by Israeli occupying forces in 1976. The commemoration takes place on March 30 annually inspired by the general strike of Palestinians from the Galilee to the Negev that was sparked by the events during that day.

The Great March of Return is scheduled to continue until May 15, 2018, the day that marks the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, which will also be the day the US is expected to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

On the other hand, Israeli media has reported the the Israeli army is preparing to confront the “Great March of Return” along the eastern border with Gaza. According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the Israeli army will be on high alert in order to prevent Palestinian protesters from approaching the border fence.

According to member of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Salah al-Bardawil, the protests were a response to Trump’s decision against the Palestinian Cause, specifically his plan to move the US embassy to Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of Nakba. He also asserted in a statement to the PIC that Trump’s decision would not threaten or prevent the peaceful “March of Return”.

Additionally, Gaza-based members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) held a meeting near the Gaza Strip’s eastern border with Israel on Monday in preparations for the mass demonstration. The meeting was held in a special tent that was constructed for the occasion.

“We have convened an unprecedented session near the temporary border [with Israel] with the aim of reaching our lands which were occupied in 1948,” PLC Deputy Speaker Ahmed Bahar said.