The Palestinians commemorated the 44th anniversary of "Earth Day", which falls on Monday, with symbolic activities to prevent the outbreak of the new Corona virus (Covid-19).
Dozens of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza at the invitation of the Palestinian Return Marching Authority, which was made up of factions and civil and human rights groups. This included tree-planting to confirm the commitment to the land.
The participants raised the Palestinian flags and banners reading: "Palestine is ours and the occupation is going to disappear."
The head of the Return Marches Authority, Khaled Al-Batsh, during a press conference on the sidelines of the demonstration, called for the restoration of Palestinian national unity at this critical stage in which the virus is spreading.
Al-Batsh called for ending the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since mid-2007, and international institutions bear their responsibilities to provide the necessary medical and preventive equipment to combat Corona.
At the invitation of the authority, it is scheduled to witness the cities of the Strip in the evening hours, raise Palestinian flags on rooftops, stop traffic for five minutes, and ring church bells and tidbits in mosques.
West Bank cities were free of any demonstrations, provided that the memory is revived through digital events through social media due to the difficult humanitarian conditions caused by the Corona virus.
In a statement on this occasion, Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyah addressed a greeting to the Palestinian who is steadfast in his land and steadfast in his right, and who preserves his identity and the legacy of his forefathers rooted in this land.
Shtayya saluted the Palestinian "who topples the American peace plan (known in the media as the deal of the century), as well as over time, all the plots that have been woven to end his right."
He added, "Our main concern is to protect the Palestinian people from the Israeli occupation and disease, to enhance their steadfastness on their land in health and safety, to defend their resources and to confront settlement."
Palestinians commemorate the anniversary, which became an annual event after the Israeli authorities announced the confiscation of 21,000 dunums of land in the Galilee, Triangle and Negev in 1976, which led to massive demonstrations among Palestinians inside Israel, which resulted in the death of six martyrs at the time.
Member of the Executive Committee of the Liberation Organization, Hanan Ashrawi, said that Earth Day commemorates this year and the Palestinian people face two dangers, the first of which is the occupation that is spreading and spreading in our land, and the second is the Corona virus.
Ashrawi accused Israel of exploiting the world´s preoccupation with the virus to "escalate its violations, crimes, colonial settlement practices and its approach based on the health neglect of the Palestinian people."
She called on the international community to "unite efforts to fight against everything that threatens humanity and stand against populism, racism, extremism, exclusivity and selfishness that is sweeping the planet."
The Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) led by President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed its adherence to the land of Palestine and the continuation of the struggle until freedom and independence.
A statement issued by the movement said that the unity associated with the land, national goals and aspirations is the appropriate response to the Zionist expansion project, and attempts to split the Palestinian people.
The statement considered that the goal of the Palestinian national struggle will remain the freedom of the human being, liberating the country from occupation and securing independence and sovereignty.
While the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confirmed that the memory of Earth Day is the subject of a Palestinian consensus among all factions and forces, and it represents a starting point for every call for real reconciliation that inspires meaning of belonging and adherence to rights.
In a statement, the movement noted that "the memory comes and has ravaged all of humanity, a deadly disease, but the occupation is trying to seize it to continue its attacks on Palestinian land and the Palestinian person."
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said that protecting the land, defending the presence, and continuing the national struggle for the liberation of independence, the return of refugees, requires the initiation of Palestinian reconciliation and adherence to all forms of resistance.
The Islamic Jihad movement also affirmed in a statement its rejection of the projects to liquidate the Palestinian issue, stressing that it will continue to work with the components, powers and currents of the Palestinian people to confront and drop it.
The Earth Day commemorates the 115 lands registered in the Palestinian Territories.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the injuries are distributed in the cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, Hebron and Salfit in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
