GAZA, Palestinian Territory — Palestinians on Wednesday marked the 71st anniversary of their mass displacement during the 1948 war around Israel’s creation with protests across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Today, there are an estimated 5 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Israel rejects demands for a mass return of refugees to long-lost homes, saying it would threaten the country’s Jewish character. Sirens also wailed across the West Bank at noon, and smaller demonstrations took place, in expressions of sadness. ——Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report.

Source: National Post May 15, 2019 10:50 UTC