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The Great March of Return (also known as the Great Return March) was a series of protests held along the Gaza-Israel border fence, initiated by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It began on March 30, 2018—coinciding with Land Day, which commemorates Palestinian protests against Israeli land expropriations in 1976—and continued weekly until it was officially suspended on December 27, 2019, after approximately 88 weeks of demonstrations.

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The protests were organized by a coalition of Palestinian civil society groups, political factions (including Hamas, which provided logistical support), and independent activists, framing it as a grassroots movement.

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The primary demands were the implementation of the United Nations-recognized right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants (stemming from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War), an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza (imposed since 2007), and relief from the humanitarian crisis in the territory, including high unemployment, restricted access to resources, and limited movement.

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Key Events and TacticsProtests typically occurred on Fridays after prayers, with tens of thousands gathering at tent encampments set up several hundred meters from the border fence in five main locations across Gaza.

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Demonstrators engaged in largely non-violent activities such as marching, chanting, planting olive trees symbolically, and cultural events, though some incidents involved stone-throwing, burning tires to create smoke screens, launching incendiary kites or balloons toward Israel (causing fires in Israeli fields), and attempts by small groups to approach or damage the fence.

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Israeli authorities described these as riots and security threats, claiming that Hamas used the protests as cover for militant activities, including planting explosives and attempting infiltrations.

One of the deadliest days was May 14, 2018, coinciding with the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem and the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding (Nakba Day for Palestinians), when over 60 Palestinians were killed and thousands injured.

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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) positioned snipers, tanks, and troops along the fence, employing a "shoot-to-maim" strategy according to some reports, using live ammunition primarily aimed at protesters' lower limbs to disperse crowds and prevent breaches.

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Tear gas, rubber bullets, and other crowd-control measures were also used.

From the Palestinian side, organizers emphasized non-violence, with medics, journalists, and families often present, but acknowledged that some youths engaged in confrontational acts.

Casualties and Humanitarian ImpactThe protests resulted in significant casualties, predominantly on the Palestinian side. By the end of 2019, at least 277 Palestinians were killed (including 48 children) and over 28,000 injured during the demonstrations, with about 25% of injuries from live ammunition.

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Among the injured, around 7,000 suffered gunshot wounds, leading to over 150 amputations and thousands with lifelong disabilities due to complex injuries like shattered bones and infections.

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This included 1,849 children, 424 women, 115 paramedics, and 115 journalists wounded in the first six months alone.

Gaza's healthcare system, already strained by the blockade, was overwhelmed, exacerbating trauma and mental health issues; studies noted a positive initial community spirit from the protests but long-term psychological strain.

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On the Israeli side, no soldiers or civilians were killed by protesters during the marches up to mid-2018, though some were injured by stones or explosives, and agricultural damage from incendiary devices was reported.

One Israeli soldier was killed in July 2018 by a Palestinian sniper during a related incident.

Responses and PerspectivesPalestinian View: The marches were seen as a legitimate, mostly peaceful expression of resistance against occupation and siege, highlighting Gaza's dire conditions. Hamas and other groups supported them but denied using them for military purposes, though some militants participated.

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Recent discussions on platforms like X emphasize the disproportionate response, with users referencing shootings of children and medics as evidence of excessive force.

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Israeli View: Officials argued the protests posed an existential threat, with attempts to storm the border potentially leading to mass infiltrations and attacks on nearby communities. The IDF's rules of engagement allowed live fire only as a last resort against those posing imminent danger, though critics disputed this.

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Some X posts frame it in broader historical contexts, questioning the "right of return" while noting Israel's withdrawals from Gaza in 2005.

International Reactions: A 2019 UN Human Rights Council inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe Israel committed violations of international law, possibly amounting to war crimes, by using lethal force against unarmed protesters.

Groups like Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières condemned the response as disproportionate.

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The U.S. supported Israel's right to defend its borders, while the EU and others called for restraint.

Israel rejected the UN findings as biased.

Outcomes and LegacyThe protests did not achieve their core demands but drew global attention to Gaza's plight, contributing to temporary ceasefires and aid deals brokered by Egypt and Qatar.

They were suspended amid escalating tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Long-term, they left a legacy of trauma, with thousands still requiring medical care, and influenced later events like the 2021 Gaza conflict.

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Discussions continue on X, linking it to ongoing issues in Gaza and broader Palestinian-Israeli dynamics.

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Veritas1357's avatar

Got it. Let’s focus squarely on the Great March of Return and the weekly protests (2018–2019), which is what your “88 weeks” memory likely refers to.

Origins and Goals

Launch: Began 30 March 2018 (Land Day in Palestine).

Organizers: A broad coalition of civil society groups, youth activists, and factions in Gaza.

Core Demand: Uphold the right of return for Palestinian refugees (enshrined in UN Resolution 194) and protest the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Symbolism: “Return” to villages/towns Palestinians were expelled from in 1948.

Format of the Protests

Weekly Rhythm: Protests were organized almost every Friday, especially along the Gaza–Israel border fence.

Duration: From March 2018 through late 2019 (with events into 2020) — nearly 90 consecutive weeks.

Methods:

Mass marches toward the border fence.

Tent encampments a few hundred meters back from the barrier, meant to recall pre-1948 villages.

Cultural events, speeches, and performances alongside the protests.

Most protesters were unarmed civilians, though some used kites, balloons, or burning tires.

Scale

Participation: Often tens of thousands each Friday.

Peak dates: Land Day (30 March 2018) and Nakba Day (15 May 2018) drew the largest crowds.

Demographics: Families, elderly, children participated — not just young men.

Israeli Response

Rules of Engagement: Israeli military said it would prevent any breach of the fence.

Force Used: Live ammunition, rubber bullets, drones dropping tear gas, high-velocity tear-gas canisters.

Casualties:

By end of 2019: ~200+ Palestinians killed; thousands injured (UN OCHA and human rights groups data).

Israeli authorities reported deaths of several soldiers and civilians, and injuries from projectiles launched from Gaza.

UN Inquiry (2019): A UN Human Rights Council report found that Israeli forces may have committed war crimes by intentionally shooting civilians (journalists, medics, children, disabled).

International Attention

Media Coverage: Major coverage in 2018, but less in 2019 as protests dragged on.

Human Rights Groups: Amnesty, HRW, B’Tselem condemned Israel’s use of lethal force.

Documentaries:

Gaza Fights for Freedom (Abby Martin, 2019) — filmed in Gaza, highlighted civilian perspective.

Other news features (Al Jazeera, Channel 4 UK, Democracy Now, etc.).

Decline and Aftermath

By late 2019 into 2020, the scale of weekly protests dropped.

Organizers scaled back to monthly or occasional large events.

Reasons: heavy toll of casualties, economic hardship, and political shifts (Hamas–Israel ceasefire talks).

The border zone remains volatile; smaller protests continue, but the sustained weekly cycle effectively ended after ~88–90 weeks.

👉 In other words, the “88 weeks of Gandhi-style protest” you recall lines up almost exactly with the Great March of Return: weekly, largely unarmed demonstrations from March 2018 to late 2019.

Would you like me to also compile a list of documentaries and films specifically covering the Great March of Return (not just Gaza generally), with details of who produced them and where they were shown?

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