Palestinians Mark Nakba

Nakba means catastrophe and in the Palestinian/Arab view, when Israel was created it was a "catastrophe". They view it as a "catastrophe" because infidels are governing over land that used to be Muslim. BBC

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has spoken of Palestinians' "pain and suffering" on the day they mark the "catastrophe" of Israel's founding.

Palestinians are recalling the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 with marches and protests.

More than 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled in the war that followed Israel's declaration of independence.

None were expelled. The Arab leaders of the time told the Palestinians to leave. It was 700,000 that left voluntarily but today the Palestinians/Arab claim over 4 million refugees. See how that math works?....

Mr Abbas said in a televised speech: "There are two peoples living on this beloved land - one celebrates independence and the other feels pain of the memory of its Nakba."

He said that Palestinians were "doing the impossible to keep the name of Palestine alive".

Mr Abbas added: "We mark this anniversary not for the sake of consoling ourselves but as a reminder of the long and glorious struggle of the Palestinian people whose wounds, pains and sufferings have not dissuaded them from rising like a phoenix."

Thousands gathered in Ramallah on the West Bank, waving Palestinian flags.

The release of 21,915 black balloons was planned - one for each day since Israel's creation.

In the Gaza Strip, controlled by Mr Abbas' rivals, Hamas, a march towards a sealed Israeli border crossing was planned.

Hamas police prevented events by Mr Abbas' Fatah movement.

In Gaza City, the Islamic Jihad militant group has organised a rally of 500 schoolchildren dressed in military uniforms.