Palestinians flock to security fence for 80th Friday

GAZA, Palestine Hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have gathered at the Israeli security fence to take part in the 80th consecutive Friday of weekly anti-occupation protests known as the Great March of Return. Protesters from across the Gaza Strip headed to the eastern areas of the coastal enclave, carrying anti-occupation banners and Palestinian flags. The Higher National Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking of the Siege of Gaza, formed by Palestinian factions, named this Friday's rallies, [Our prisoners, our al-Aqsa Mosque, we are coming]. "These demonstrations reflect how our causes are rooted in the hearts of our people and reflect, as well, how they are ready to fight for these sacred causes [the prisoners and the al-Aqsa Mosque]," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the Hamas Movement. Almost 270 protesters have been martyred -- and thousands more wounded -- by Israeli forces at the security fence areas with Gaza since the Gaza rallies began in March last year. Demonstrators demand an end to Israel’s 12-year-old blockade to the Gaza Strip, which has shattered the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its 2 million inhabitants of free movement in and out from Gaza and prevented many basic amenities. *Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara