PHOTOS: Nakba commemorations from Gaza to the Galilee

Photos by: Ahmad Al-Bazz, Mustafa Bader, Keren Manor, Ryan Rodrick Beiler, Yotam Ronen, Omar Sameer, and Oren Ziv

Some 15,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel take part in the March of Return to Lubya, a village in what is now northern Israel, which was destroyed in the Nakba of 1948. The event was held on May 6, 2014, the same day that Israeli Jews celebrate Independence Day. Nakba, Arabic for "catastrophe," is the term given to the forced displacement of some 750,000 Palestinian refugees from 500 communities by Zionist forces before, during and after the 1948 War.
Some 15,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel take part in the March of Return to Lubya, a village in what is now northern Israel, which was destroyed in the Nakba of 1948. The event was held on May 6, 2014, the same day that Israeli Jews celebrate Independence Day. Nakba, Arabic for “catastrophe,” is the term given to the forced displacement of some 750,000 Palestinian refugees from 500 communities by Zionist forces before, during and after the 1948 War. (Activestills.org)

Palestinians from Nablus to the Gaza Strip Israel/Palestine marked Nakba Day, to commemorate the events of 1948. Nakba, Arabic for “catastrophe,” is the term given to the forced displacement of some 750,000 Palestinian refugees from 500 communities by Zionist forces before, during and after the 1948 War.

The commemoration began last week on Israel’s Independence Day, when Palestinian citizens of Israel held an annual “march of return” to the destroyed village of Lubye near the Sea of Galilee. Most of the former residents of Lubye currently live in Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria.

Palestinian citizens of Israel sing around a campfire the night before the March of Return to the village of Lubya in Israel's north.
Palestinian citizens of Israel sing around a campfire the night before the March of Return to the village of Lubya in Israel’s north. (Activestills.org)
Israeli activists from the organization Zochrot hang portraits of Israelis holding a statement of recognition of the Palestinian Nakba, on the 1948 headquarters of the militant Zionist organization Irgun, located in the area of the destroyed Palestinian village of Manhyia, near the city of Jaffa, May 5, 2014. The action was held on the evening of the Israeli Independence day to commemorate the Palestinian 1948 Nakba.
Israeli activists from the organization Zochrot hang portraits of Israelis holding a statement of recognition of the Palestinian Nakba, on the 1948 headquarters of the militant Zionist organization Irgun, located in the area of the destroyed Palestinian village of Manshyia, near the city of Jaffa, May 5, 2014. The action was held on the evening of the Israeli Independence day to commemorate the Palestinian 1948 Nakba. (Activestills.org)
Children play near a tent set up for a Nakba commemoration event in Maghazi Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, May 11, 2014. Some 75 percent of Gaza residents are refugees whose original homes were in what is now Israel.
Children play near a tent set up for a Nakba commemoration event in Maghazi Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, May 11, 2014. Some 75 percent of Gaza residents are refugees whose original homes were in what is now Israel. (Activestills.org)

Meanwhile, activists from Zochrot, an Israeli organization dedicated to raising awareness about the Nakba in Israel, hung portraits of Israelis holding a statement of recognition of the Nakba, on the 1948 headquarters of the militant Zionist organization Irgun, located in the area of the destroyed Palestinian neighborhood of Manshiyya, formerly part of Jaffa.

Right-wing nationalists from the group Im Tirzu protest as Palestinian students living in Israel and Israeli supporters commemorate the Nakba outside Tel Aviv university, May 11, 2014.
Right-wing nationalists from the group Im Tirzu protest as Palestinian students living in Israel and Israeli supporters commemorate the Nakba outside Tel Aviv university, May 11, 2014. (Activestills.org)

On Sunday, approximately 300 students marked Nakba Day with a commemoration ceremony at Tel Aviv University. Palestinian students read testimonies of those who fled their homes or were expelled by Israeli forces during the 1948 War. A noisy counter-protest by students affiliated with the nationalist Im Tirzu group took place opposite the ceremony.

Children from Aida Refugee Camp fly kites over the Israeli separation wall during a Nakba commemoration event, May 14, 2014.
Children from Aida Refugee Camp fly kites over the Israeli separation wall during a Nakba commemoration event, May 14, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Children from Aida Refugee Camp carry keys symbolizing the right of return toward the Israeli separation wall during a Nakba commemoration event, Bethlehem, West Bank, May 14, 2014.
Children from Aida Refugee Camp carry keys symbolizing the right of return toward the Israeli separation wall during a Nakba commemoration event, Bethlehem, West Bank, May 14, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Palestinians demonstrate on the 66th anniversary of the Nakba in the West Bank city of Nablus, May 14, 2014.
Palestinians demonstrate on the 66th anniversary of the Nakba in the West Bank city of Nablus, May 14, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Palestinians march toward the Green Line in a Nakba Day protest in the West Bank village of Al Walaja, May 15, 2014.
Palestinians march toward the Green Line in a Nakba Day protest in the West Bank village of Al Walaja, May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian youths in Guy Fawkes masks hold stones during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the center of Hebron on the 66th anniversary of Nakba, May 15, 2014.
Palestinian youths in Guy Fawkes masks hold stones during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the center of Hebron on the 66th anniversary of Nakba, May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)

On Thursday (Nakba Day), Palestinians from marched in Hebron, Beitunia, Al-Walaja, Ramallah, Gaza City, the Galilee, Bethlehem, Nablus, Qalandiya and East Jerusalem. In Beitunia, Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinians, Muhammad Abu Thahr (22) and Nadim Nuwara (17) during a demonstration outside Ofer military prison. According to human rights organization B’Tselem, one of the youth was not breathing upon arrival at the hospital and died on the operating table.

In Nablus, the demonstrators held signs and photos of prisoners in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian administrative prisoners that was started on April 24, 2014. The hunger strike comes after Israeli authorities reneged on an agreement after a previous hunger strike to limit the use of administrative detention to exceptional cases.

An Israeli soldier aims a rifle fitted for shooting rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians during clashes in the centre of Hebron at the 66th anniversary of Nakba, May 15, 2014.
An Israeli soldier aims a rifle fitted for shooting rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians during clashes in the centre of Hebron at the 66th anniversary of Nakba, May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Palestinian youth throw stones at Israeli forces on the path of the Israeli separation barrier under construction on land belonging to the West Bank village of Al Walaja in a Nakba Day protest, May 15, 2014. As with 85% of its route, the separation wall is being built on Al Walaja land inside the West Bank, rather than on the internationally recognized border, or Green Line, with Israel.
Palestinian youth throw stones at Israeli forces on the path of the Israeli separation barrier under construction on land belonging to the West Bank village of Al Walaja in a Nakba Day protest, May 15, 2014. As with 85% of its route, the separation wall is being built on Al Walaja land inside the West Bank, rather than on the internationally recognized border, or Green Line, with Israel. (Activestills.org)
Marchers carry flags in a Nakba Day commemoration in the displaced village of Capri  in the western Galilee,  May 15, 2014.
Marchers carry flags in a Nakba Day commemoration in the displaced village of Capri in the western Galilee,
May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)
A Palestinian youth pushes a sofa toward burning barricades during Nakba Day clashes at Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank, May 15, 2014.
A Palestinian youth pushes a sofa toward burning barricades during Nakba Day clashes at Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank, May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)
An Israeli border policeman stands near the Israeli separation wall during a protest commemorating the Nakba at Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank, May 15, 2014.
An Israeli border policeman stands near the Israeli separation wall during a protest commemorating the Nakba at Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank, May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian man during a protest commemorating the Nakba at Damascus gate, outside Jerusalem's old city, May 15, 2014.
Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian man during a protest commemorating the Nakba at Damascus Gate, outside Jerusalem’s Old City, May 15, 2014. (Activestills.org)
Israeli border policemen detain a Palestinian youth during a protest commemorating the Nakba at Damascus gate, outside Jerusalem's old city, May 15, 2014.
Israeli border policemen detain a Palestinian youth during a protest commemorating the Nakba at Damascus Gate, outside Jerusalem’s Old City, May 15, 2014.v
The mother of Nadim Siam Abu Nuwara mourns over her son who was shot and killed by Israeli army during a Nakba Day protest near Ofer military prison the previous day, May 16, 2014. Mohammed Awad Salemeh Abu Thaher, 22, was also shot and killed at the same demonstration.
The mother of Nadim Siam Abu Nuwara mourns over her son who was shot and killed by Israeli army during a Nakba Day protest near Ofer military prison the previous day, May 16, 2014. Mohammed Awad Salemeh Abu Thaher, 22, was also shot and killed at the same demonstration. (Activestills.org)

For more +972 coverage from Nakba Day:
Two Palestinians killed in Nakba Day protest
Liberating Israeli Jews from the dark legacy of the Nakba
Who’s afraid of the right of return?
WATCH: Palestinian, Jewish students commemorate Nakba at Tel Aviv University