UMM AL-FAHM, (PIC)
Dozens of residents of Umm al-Fahm, within the Green Line, took part on Monday in marking the 50th anniversary of Land Day, observed annually on March 30.
Participants held a gathering at the city’s main roundabout, organized by the local popular committee, despite restrictions on public assembly amid the ongoing Israeli–American war on Iran.
They raised banners bearing the names of depopulated Palestinian villages and the colors of the Palestinian flag, while Israeli police prevented the display of the flag and maintained a heavy presence around the gathering.
Mohammad Khader Jabareen, head of the popular committee in Umm al-Fahm, said that 1976 witnessed a widespread uprising among Palestinians inside Israel, during which six people were killed defending their land.
He added that the occasion is “not merely symbolic, but a renewed moment to continue the struggle to protect land and housing,” noting that current developments reflect similar attempts to intimidate Palestinians and suppress protest.
He stressed the importance of remaining prepared to confront policies targeting Palestinians, including land confiscation and arrests.
Palestinians continue to commemorate Land Day through public events and marches despite facing restrictions and repression that often lead to injuries and arrests.
This year’s 50th anniversary comes amid escalating land confiscation policies in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem, alongside worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, giving the occasion added urgency.
Despite five decades having passed, Palestinians within the Green Line continue to mark Land Day, reaffirming their attachment to their land and identity in one of the most significant milestones of their national struggle.
