What was supposed be a peaceful march marking Palestine's Land Day in Gaza was met with deadly force from Israeli troops. Our correspondent Noor Harazeen reports from Gaza.

Friday's fatalities marked one of the most violent days in Gaza in years, as thousands of protestors marched toward the Israeli frontier, in major demonstration marking the 42nd anniversary of Land Day dubbed the "Great Return March".

ESSAM HAMAD, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF THE GREAT RETURN MARCH "The turnout is unprecedented and is beyond our expectations. Huge crowds of Palestinian refugees have gathered in five different spots in Gaza along the border with Israel. Our message to the world is that the Palestinian people have decided to rise up peacefully in order to take back their rights which have been stolen for 70 years."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is holding Israel fully responsible for Friday's death toll. He also declared Saturday a day of national mourning. In a speech broadcast on Palestine TV, Abbas said he has asked the United Nations to provide protection for the defenseless Palestinians.

Palestinians decided this year to break from their routine in commemorating Land Day. Organizers erected hundreds of tents some 500 meters away from the security fence on the Israeli border, to host protestors who arrived from across the Gaza Strip to demand their right to return to their property in what is now Israel.

AHLAM AL-HAJ PROTESTOR AND REFUGEE IN GAZA "I came to participate despite this protest site being very far away. I had the feeling that it was Eid day. I woke up in the morning, I got my children dressed up and we came here. We were happy as if we were really returning to our lands in my hometown Koka in Migdal."

According to organizers, a series of events planned to culminate on May 15 will take place over the course of six weeks starting March 30th. Despite the call for peaceful demonstrations, Israel has doubled its troop presence on the border with the Gaza Strip, deploying snipers, special units and drones. The army also enforced a closed "military zone" in the area surrounding Gaza citing, fearing the protest could be an attempt of a mass breach of its border. Noor Harazeen CGTN Gaza.