Israel kills protesters on catastrophe day

Picture shows Israeli troops during clashes with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city on May 14, 2011 as Palestinians were preparing to mark the Nakba Day

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180041.html

Israeli troops have launched attacks on many rallies held across the Middle East in protest at the establishment of the Israeli regime 63 years ago, killing dozens of people.

On Sunday, the demonstrators gathered in different cities across the Middle East to remember the May 15, 1948 occupation of Palestine, known as the Nakba Day or 'day of the catastrophe.'

The manufactured existence, enabled by large-scale offensives, forced more than 700,000 of 1.4 million Palestinians out of their homeland to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, neighboring Arab nations as well as many other countries in the world.

In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military killed two protesters, including a Palestinian teenager, and injuring at least 65 others, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Israeli Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter planes flew over the demonstrators, whereas troops fired tank shells near marching protesters.

Troops reportedly open fire on Gazans marching on Erez border crossing the coastal strip's northern border with Israel.

A journalist suffered critical injury from Israeli fire in the northern city of Beit Hanoun.

Two Palestinians died and scores were wounded by Tel Aviv fire in the occupied West Bank. The protesters there were calling for an end to the Israeli occupation and aggression as well as the release of all Palestinian prisoners -- who number around 9,000.

A report said one person had been killed and 150 hurt in the Qalandiya village near the city of Ramallah in central West Bank. The military also mowed down five protesters in south Lebanon, injuring another 30.

The Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh urged Palestinians to carry on with their resistance against the Tel Aviv regime. He also expressed hope that Palestinians would one day return to their homes and homeland.

"The Palestinian people know what their path is. They know the path to liberation and to resolving the conflict with the occupation, which can only be done under the banner of Islam. The struggle for freedom cannot happen unless this requirement mentioned in the [Holy] Qur'an is achieved," he said.

In Syria's Golan Heights, at least 12 protesters were killed and 30 wounded by Israeli military fire. In Lebanon, Israeli troops killed at least 5 people, injuring another.