Clashes between Israeli occupation army and civilian demonstrators left many killed and several injured; The incident receives wide criticism
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    • According to reports, ‘Israeli occupation army’ opened fire on Syrian, Palestinian, Lebanese civilian demonstrators who were celebrating the 63rd anniversary of al-Nakba Day, with participants denouncing the Israeli occupation policies and stressing the need to end occupation and adhere to the right to return. In the firing, a number of civilian demonstrators were killed, and many others wounded, few of them in critical conditions. In Ein al-Tineh in Quneitra province and Majdal Shams in the Occupied Syrian Golan, two citizens were killed and 170 others wounded in the attack. According to Palestinian sources, in Gaza, one Palestinian was killed and 160 were injured by Israeli artillery fire that targeted areas near Beit Hanoun crossing point north of Gaza Strip and near Kalandia crossing point in occupied Jerusalem. Further, reports from Lebanon noted that 10 people were killed and 112 injured in the firing at Palestinian demonstrators in Maroun al-Ras area in southern Lebanon.1

    Reacting to the situation, Syria condemned Israel's criminal practices against the people in Golan, Palestine and South Lebanon, an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said. It also demanded that the international community hold Israel fully accountable for its practices.2 Meanwhile, Lebanese designate Prime Minister Najib Mikati denounced the Israeli aggressive practices and massacres against unarmed protestors, saying that through these actions, Israel wanted to relay a message to the international community that it is above reproach, accountability and denouncement. The Arab League also condemned the Israeli occupation's crimes against Arab demonstrators in Golan, Palestine and Southern Lebanon with Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and Occupied Arab Lands Affairs, Ambassador Mohammad Sbeih, decrying the occupation's forces aggression and opening fire against unarmed civilians in Maroun al-Ras, the occupied Syrian Golan, Beit Hanoun and the West Bank.3

    In a statement by Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi, Egypt voiced its full support of the Palestinian people's right to defend their cause, saying that Israel's oppression of peaceful demonstrations shows that it doesn't understand the changes taking place in the region. Separately, in a statement, Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major-General Alberto Asarta, described the events that took place in Maroun al-Ras and the Israeli forces' attack against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians as grave, calling for exerting self-control to prevent any more injuries and affirming that UNFIL will maintain its presence to support the Lebanese Armed Forces.4

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