Thousands protest in Gaza against Israel’s West Bank annexation plans

Gaza, Jul 1 (efe-epa).- Thousands of Palestinians protested in the streets of Gaza on Wednesday over the Israeli government’s plan to annex parts of occupied territory in the West Bank.

There were around 30,000 protesters at the demonstration, according to local media reports, as well as leaders from the enclave’s main political factions.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar addressed the crowd and told them the Palestinian resistance will frustrate the annexation plan.

Following direction from political leaders, they did not go to the dividing fence with Israel.

The Gaza-Israel border is where bloody weekly protests known as the Great March of Return were held in which more than 250 Palestinians were killed and another 16,000 wounded, according to local health authorities.

Activists on Wednesday waved Palestinian flags and shouted chants against Israel, the United States and the White House’s regional peace plan, known as the “Deal of the Century.”

Sadi Aabed, a spokesman for the political factions present, addressed the protesters and said Israel “will not enjoy calm for long”.

Hamas senior official Khalil Al-Hayya told the crowd: “All options for our people and for Hamas are open in the face of the occupation to resist the decision of annexation until the comprehensive liberation of the land of Palestine and the return of our people to the land from which they left and the establishment of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital on the entire soil of the Palestinian homeland.”

He added: “We are united in confronting the occupation, its policy and the existence of the occupation on our land.”

There have been intermittent rockets fired from Gaza into Israel in recent weeks in a resumption of hostilities.