WarSclerotic

US President Barack Obama’s visit to the region confirmed his bias toward Israel, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told crowds in Gaza in a speech on the eve of the 37th Land Day, Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported.

The Hamas premier reportedly warned his audience that Palestinians face ongoing political, economic, military and media campaigns to give up their land.

“We reject resettlement in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or the Sinai,” Ma’an quoted Haniyeh as saying, emphasizing that Palestinians must reject the idea of settling in any land other than ‘Palestine.’

He added that Hamas is keen to reach a reconciliation agreement with the rival Fatah party.

Meanwhile, Some 2,000 Arab Israelis took part in a protest in Taibe ahead of Land Day which Palestinians will mark on Saturday.

MKs Mohammed Barakeh (Hadash) and Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List- Ta’al) participated in the rally.

Land Day is held annually on March 30 to commemorate the deaths of six Galilee Arabs in 1976 riots over a government decision to confiscate land.

In the West Bank, protesters clashed with Israeli soldiers on Friday, where Palestinians were also demonstrating in preparation for Land Day.

Palestinian and International activists organized the march between five villages located in the south Hebron hills. The villages are at risk of being cut off from the rest of the West Bank if planned Israeli settlement and wall building goes ahead.

What was supposed to be a peaceful march turned to scuffles when the demonstrators were confronted by IDF soldiers who tried to stop them accessing a local road.

IDF forces fired tear gas to try and disperse the crowd, and several people were seen being detained.

The annexation of land in the West Bank is seen by the Arab community as a way of altering the population demographic of Galilee to create a Jewish majority in the area.

Reuters contributed to this report