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Palestinians commemorate 74th Nakba Day: Live updates | Israel-Palestine conflict News

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On May 15, 1948, Israel was established as a Jewish-majority state at the expense of the forced expulsion of about 750,000 Palestinians.

The day has subsequently been commemorated annually as Nakba Day.

The word “Nakba” means “catastrophe” in Arabic, and refers to the systematic ethnic cleansing of two-thirds of the Palestinian population at the time by Zionist paramilitaries between 1947-1949 and the near-total destruction of Palestinian society.

Zionist forces had taken more than 78 percent of historic Palestine, ethnically cleansed and destroyed about 530 villages and cities, and killed about 15,000 Palestinians in a series of mass atrocities, including more than 70 massacres.

This year marks 74 years of Al-Nakba, or the Palestinian experience of dispossession and loss of a homeland. The anniversary comes at a time where many are angered by the killing of prominent Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Here are the latest updates:


Palestinian armed fighter dies from wound days after Israeli raid

A Palestinian gunman has died after being critically wounded in an armed confrontation with Israeli forces in Jenin refugee camp last Friday.

Daoud al-Zubaidi, 43, died at Rambam hospital after sustaining wounds following a raid by Israeli forces into the camp.

Al-Zubaidi is the brother of Zakaria al-Zubaidi, one of the six prisoners who escaped from Gilboa prison last year.

“Thus, there is a state of great anger within the Palestinian territories over the killing of al-Zubaidi,” said Al Jazeera’s Samir Abu Shammala.

“So far, Israel has refrained from transferring Zubeidi’s body to Jenin camp for burial.”


Sirens sound for 74 seconds marking Nakba Day in Ramallah

In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, sirens went off for 74 seconds, marking the 74th anniversary of the Nakba.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said the day is especially poignant for the six million Palestinian refugees within the country and outside it.

“There’s been a lot of emphasis on the right of return,” she said, speaking from Ramallah. “Looking at the political situation, not only are Palestinians not able to return back to their lands, they are struggling to stay on the lands that they are currently in.”

“Whether it is firing zones, natural reserves, or security buffer zones – all these names have been used by the Israeli military to rule over Palestinians,” Ibrahim added.


Israeli soldier who shot Shireen Abu Akleh interrogated: Haaretz

Israeli daily Haaretz said that the soldier accused of killing Abu Akleh has been interrogated, and was sitting in an army vehicle 190 meters away from the journalist.

Citing an unnamed Israeli official, Haaretz said the soldier, despite his rifle having a telescopic lens, did not see Abu Akleh.

“Reading between the lines, it is very much a step back from the initial assessment from the army and the establishment here, who said potentially it would have been a Palestinian gunman,” said Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker.

“Our colleagues who were on the ground with Shireen were extremely clear that they believed it was the army,” she continued, speaking from occupied East Jerusalem. “It now seems to be indicating that the Israelis are now slowly starting to say it looks like it may have been one of their soldiers who fired the fatal shot.


Blinken offers support to family of slain Palestinian journalist

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with slain Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s family after criticizing Israel’s use of force at her funeral.

Blinken offered “deep condolences” in a phone call with family members of Shireen Abu Akleh, a State Department official said.

The top US diplomat “noted Abu Akleh’s journalistic body of work and the importance of a free and independent press”, the official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Blinken offered the support of US diplomats in Jerusalem to the family of Abu Akleh, who also held US citizenship.

Abu Akleh, a prominent journalist across the Arab world, held US citizenship. She was killed last Wednesday by an Israeli sniper while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.


One year since Al Jazeera offices destroyed by Israel in Gaza

Al Jazeera’s Youmna El Sayed announced the reopening of the new Al Jazeera bureau in Gaza City on the anniversary of Israel destroying the network’s media offices.

The Jalaa building, which housed Al Jazeera and The Associated Press offices, was targeted by Israeli forces last May during the 11-day offensive on the Gaza Strip. At least 266 Palestinians were killed.

(Al Jazeera)

According to local officials, 50 media offices were targeted during the war.

“Today, we stand here after one whole year after working from various locations and temporary offices,” El Sayed said, standing in front of the rubble that used to be the Jalaa building in Gaza.

“This hasn’t stopped us from reporting,” she continued. “We’ve become more persistent toward what we do.”

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