Palestinians mark Al-Nakba Day

Palestinians mark Al-Nakba Day
Updated 15 May 2012
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Palestinians mark Al-Nakba Day

Palestinians mark Al-Nakba Day

Thousands of Palestinians have attended demonstrations to commemorate what they refer to as the "Al-Nakba" or Catastrophe.
It marks the day after the anniversary of Israel's independence in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes or were displaced.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said they would never forget "the beginning of our continued hardship".
Many people also celebrated yesterday the end of a two-month hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The Israeli authorities agreed concessions over the use of detention without trial and solitary confinement, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners agreeing not to coordinate "terrorist activity" from behind bars.
Demonstrators poured onto the streets in several towns and cities across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, chanting slogans against Israel.
In East Jerusalem, protesters burned dozens of Israeli flags and hurled stones at Israeli troops manning security points.