Thousands of US citizens take to the streets, commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba

New York (ANTARA) - Thousands of people in several cities across the United States held demonstrations to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba on Saturday evening (16 May).

The protests, which took place in New York City, Washington, and other cities, were among the largest mobilisations related to the Nakba this year.

Participants waved Palestinian flags and various symbols associated with the right of return. They also chanted slogans in support of Gaza and Jerusalem.

In New York, demonstrators gathered at Washington Square Park before starting a march.

The speeches and calls during the demonstration highlighted the ongoing war in Gaza, solidarity with Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the connection between the displacement of Palestinians in 1948 and the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Many demonstrators also carried replicas of keys symbolising the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland - one of the most well-known symbols of the Nakba.

In Washington, a demonstration was held near the White House.

The participants urged an end to the war in Gaza and called for protection of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The demonstrations were part of a wave of international activities to commemorate the Nakba while also calling for continued public and political pressure to protect Palestinian rights.

Source: WAFA