Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Ramallah to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, the mass displacement that accompanied Israel's creation in 1948.
Mosques across the city broadcast a 78-second siren, a symbolic reference to the anniversary. A march from Yasser Arafat's grave to Manara Square featured flags, drums, and scout music.
Protesters carried a large key symbolizing the 'right of return' and banners demanding return to 'historic Palestine.'
'This day reminds us of a national tragedy,' said Abdel Kareem Abu Arqoub, a Palestinian at the rally. 'The right of return must be restored.' Jihad Dar Ali called the right 'sacred' and demanded compensation from Britain for the Balfour Declaration, which paved the way for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
About 750,000 Palestinians were displaced in 1948. UN Resolution 194 calls for their return, but Israel has not implemented it. The Nakba remains central to Palestinian identity and is commemorated annually across the West Bank, Gaza, and diaspora.