Gaza Clashes: Huge protest planned despite Israeli military threat

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Palestinians in Gaza are preparing for a huge protest on the Israeli border this Friday, in the face of Israeli threats to expand military response inside Gaza if violence continues. And the League of Arab States has held an emergency meeting. Noor Harazeen reports.

Hundreds of Palestinians are still protesting in camps set up in areas along the Gaza-Israel border called the "Great Return Camps". The border areas have become a permanent sit-in for residents who come daily to these camps to express their right to return to their villages and towns in Israel.

AMJAD RAYAN PROTESTER "We will stay here until our last breath and to the last man. As you can see, the Israeli soldiers and snipers in their armored vehicles are here. We are not afraid of them. They have fired tear gas bombs, they killed many of us, but it is ok, we will return to our land."

The Gaza Strip is reeling from the bloodiest episode in years after Israeli forces killed more than a dozen people during demonstrations near the Gaza-Israel last Friday. Hamas has threatened to step up Gaza protests this week, while the Israeli military warned that it would expand its response if the violence continued.

Organizers said the Great Return March activities will continue until mid-May, during the anniversary of Nakba Day and the date set for moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.

YUSSUF ABUL ATTA INT'L COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF THE GREAT RETURN MARCH "We will organize a commemoration ceremony for all the martyrs who fell by Israeli fire during last week's demonstrations. The activities of the Great Return March will continue until May 15th, and until we achieve our aims and objectives of returning to historic Palestine."

Over the weekend, the U.S. blocked a UN Security Council draft statement, calling for restraint and an independent investigation into the deaths in Gaza.

On Tuesday, the League of Arab States held an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss the latest tension along the Gaza- Israeli border. The League's Assistant Secretary General holds Israel responsible.

The Arab League's Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit also called the UN Security Council to form a commission and investigate last Friday's deaths. Noor Harazeen CGTN GAZA.