Thousands of people have held a demonstration in Tel Aviv to protest against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories since the Six-Day War of 1967 and the attack on the Freedom Flotilla.
According to Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), amid a heavy police presence, the activists — both Israelis and Arabs — marked the 43rd anniversary of the Six-Day War and protested against the "43 years of occupation."
The Israeli protesters carried placards reading "The government is sinking all of us — we must aspire for peace." Other marchers held up signs reading "Israel, Palestine, two states for two people" and "We are ashamed of the government."
The protesters, estimated by organizers to be around 15,000, also took the opportunity to condemn the lethal assault on a Gaza-bound ship by Israeli forces.
The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea early on May 31, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the six ships and injuring about 50 other people.
Israel also arrested nearly 700 activists from 42 countries on board the Freedom Flotilla, which was attempting to break the three-year siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.
The fate of three other Freedom Flotilla activists is still unknown.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza has deprived the 1.5 million residents of the territory of food, fuel, and other basic necessities.
The Israeli police hurled smoke grenades at the protestors, but no injuries were reported.
The rally had been organized by a leftist coalition that includes Meretz, Peace Now, Gush Shalom, Hadash, Physicians for Human Rights, and other organizations. The march was led by Knesset members Muhammad Barakeh, Dov Khenin, and Haim Oron.
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