Lebanon Nakba March (25 images)

On Sunday May 15, over 50,000 Palestinians from all the refugee camps in Lebanon, and many Lebanese supporters, went to the border village of Maroun al Rass to commemorate and protest the Nakba. Nakba is arabic for catastrophe. The Nakba commemorates the loss of Palestine, the creation of over 740000 refugees and destruction of more than 500 villages. It was inspired by the Arab Spring.

Maroun al Rass was turned into a huge parking lot. Buses parked in surrounding villages. For...
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On Sunday May 15, over 50,000 Palestinians from all the refugee camps in Lebanon, and many Lebanese supporters, went to the border village of Maroun al Rass to commemorate and protest the Nakba. Nakba is arabic for catastrophe. The Nakba commemorates the loss of Palestine, the creation of over 740000 refugees and destruction of more than 500 villages. It was inspired by the Arab Spring.

Maroun al Rass was turned into a huge parking lot. Buses parked in surrounding villages. For many the walk would take up to 2 hours. Mostly up hill, through wheat fields, tobacco fields, fields with wild flowers. Everyones spirits were high. They were all going to see their homeland, most for the first time. Palestinians aren't allowed into the UNIFIL zone.

After reaching the top of the hill the view was expansive. Agricultural lands on both sides of the border. The border is clearly defined. Israel has set up 2 fences, one is electrified, barbed wire on both and a road in between. The road is for military access and patrols. On the Lebanese side they have put land mines. About 300 protesters were at the fence. The mood was changing from high spirits to anger. Every few minutes 2, 3 maybe 4 shots were fired, protesters would fall, wounded or dead. It seemed every shot would hit its target. This went on for a few hour. The rock throwing was continuous, but It was futile. The rocks had to clear the first fence, the road, then the second fence, then into the the trees where the Israeli soldiers were camouflaged and hiding. With the number of wounded and dead rising, emotions were inflamed. That day the Lebanese army said 10 protesters were killed and 112 were wounded. Munib Masri was one of the victims who was shot in his side with a dumdum bullet. A 22 year old student at the American University of Beirut. The bullet exploded after entry. He lost his kidney, his spleen, and it broke his spine. He is now paralyzed, and the long term prognoses doesn't look good
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