Thousands rally in memorial to Palestinian martyrs
The Israeli occupation launched a five-day aggression against the Gaza Strip early in the month.
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Palestinians gather as tear gas is fired by Israeli forces during a protest marking Land Day and the first anniversary of a surge of border protests at the Gaza border fence in Gaza City on March 30, 2019. (Reuters)
Thousands of Palestinians have gathered in Gaza to pay tribute to the dead of the Israeli regime's recent terrorist campaign in the occupied territories, vowing to continue their struggle in the face of the occupying entity.
On Friday, a rally was staged in Gaza City in memory of the 30-plus Palestinians who were killed during several days of unrelenting bombardment by the regime on Palestinian territory earlier this month.
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On May 9, the Israeli occupation launched a five-day aggression against the Gaza Strip, targeting residential houses in the north, center, and south of the Strip.
In retaliation, the Al-Quds Brigades and the Palestinian Resistance factions launched Operation Avenging the Free, in which they fired advanced rockets and missiles that bypassed the Iron Dome and targeted several Israeli settlements, occupied cities, and occupation sites.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed in the aggression rose to 33 martyrs, including six children and three women, and 147 people were wounded.
After five days of combat, the two sides agreed to a truce mediated by Egypt, which went into effect on Saturday night.
Speaking at the remembrance gathering on Friday, Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batsh commemorated the group's commanders who were slain in assassination operations carried out during the Israeli offensive.
"Today, the Islamic Jihad holds this ceremony to commemorate its martyrs and the leaders, Khalil Al-Bahtini, Jihad Ghannam, Tareq Ezzedine, Khader Adnan, Ali Ghali, Ahmed Abu Dakka, Eyad Al Hasani, and all the martyrs of our people."
"We want to tell the whole world that, though, the F-16 airstrikes and the American 139 rockets were fired toward us, this nation is still alive and will continue the resistance," he added.
"We also attest our right to freedom. Through their blood, we will continue to resist. From their death, we receive the power to face the Zionists. We will continue."
