WEST BANK (Dispatches) – Thousands of Palestinians have rallied in the Gaza Strip in a memorial to the martyrs of the Zionist regime’s recent campaign of terrorism in the coastal territory, pledging to sustain their resistance in the face of the occupying entity.
The demonstration was held in Gaza City on Friday in honor of the 30-plus Palestinians, who were martyred during several days of incessant airstrikes by the regime that targeted the Palestinian territory earlier this month.
The Zionist regime launched the campaign of deadly bombings on May 9, prompting the Islamic Jihad, a resistance group based in Gaza, to fire over 1,000 rockets toward the occupied territories.
The conflict marked the worst episode of fighting between Gaza’s resistance factions and the Zionist regime since a 10-day war imposed by Tel Aviv on the blockaded territory in 2021.
After five days of fighting, the two sides agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect on Saturday night.
Addressing the Friday commemoration event, Islamic Jihad leader, Khaled al-Batsh, remembered the group’s commanders, who were killed in assassination operations waged during the Zionist onslaught.
“Today, the Islamic Jihad holds this ceremony to commemorate its martyrs and the leaders, Khalil Al-Bahtini, Jihad Ghannam, Tareq Ezzedine, Khadder Adnan, Ali Ghali, Ahmed Abu Dakka, Eyad al-Hasani, and for all the martyrs of our people.”
“We want to tell the whole world that, though, the F-16 airstrikes and the American 139 rockets were fired toward us, this nation is still alive and will continue the resistance,” he added.
“We also attest our right to freedom. From their blood, we will continue the resistance. From their death, we receive the power to face the Zionists. We will continue.”
Meanwhile, several Palestinians sustained injuries while dozens of others suffered tear gas inhalation as Zionist troops violently dispersed anti-settlement demonstrations in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, said extremist Jewish settlers, under the protection of Zionist troops, barged their way into Qaryout village, located 28 kilometers (17 miles) southeast of Nablus, on Friday, triggering confrontations with local residents.
Zionist troops then fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters at the protesting villagers, injuring a number of them. Dozens of others suffered breathing difficulties from tear gas during clashes with troops and settlers.
Similar confrontations erupted when Zionist troops cracked down on anti-settlement rallies in Beita town and Beit Dajan village, south and east of Nablus.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said two Palestinian civilians suffered breathing problems in Beita, while twelve others were wounded in Beit Dajan.
In a related development, a number of Palestinians were injured after Zionist troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas bombs at protesters in Kafr Qaddum town.