Hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters rallied near the U.S. Capitol to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, the massive exodus of Palestinians that occurred in 1948 following the establishment of the state of Israel.

The supporters of Palestinians in Gaza chanted slogans and voiced criticism of the Israeli and U.S. governments at the National Mall in Washington D.C., despite a steady rain.

Many of the supporters have a direct and personal connection to the Nakba, the Arabic word for catastrophe. The protesters also include local Jewish people, holding placards reading ''The State of 'Israel' does not represent world Jewry".

"My parents were displaced from Palestine in 1948, and they couldn't go back to their homeland until they died. They died in exile. Their only wish was to be buried in Palestine, in their homeland, and they couldn't even achieve that. I'm totally against the genocide and what Israel has been doing for the last 76 years," said a supporter.

"I was four years old at that time, and Nakba, you could see the people crying, moving from their home, leaving everything behind. And it's awful. It's terrible. Nobody would like to have that experience. People lost everything, their home, their clothes. They left even their shoes behind," said another.

Some of the demonstrators stood in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and protested U.S. support of Israel and its fight against Hamas over the past seven months.

"I object to my government spending my tax dollars to murder Palestinians, women, children and men, civilians who are not responsible for what Hamas did on October 7," said a demonstrator.

A coalition of Palestinian groups organized the gathering, in unison with other commemorative marches in capitals across the world.

"Palestinians have such a strong connection to the land, and myself as an Arab and Palestinian in diaspora, the stories that my parents shared with me, of their experience as well as my grandparents stories of displacement, resonates with all of us, and that connection and longing that we have for our homeland remains strong," said Mohammed Qasim, the rally organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement.

More than 76 years after Nakba, young and old Palestinians are still fighting for their right to return to their homeland, longing for a free Palestine.

SHOTLIST:

Washington D.C., USA - May 18, 2024
1. Pro-Palestinian supporters holding placards reading "End all U.S. aid to Israel" "Not in our name"; chanting slogans;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) supporter (name not given) (ending with shot 3):
"My parents were displaced from Palestine in 1948, and they couldn't go back to their homeland until they died. They died in exile. Their only wish was to be buried in Palestine, in their homeland, and they couldn't even achieve that. I'm totally against the genocide and what Israel has been doing for the last 76 years.";
3. Various of placards reading "I want you to re-evaluate" "Reject the Zionist propaganda" "I want you to be compliant in funding genocide";
4. SOUNDBITE (English) supporter (name not given):
"I was four years old at that time, and Nakba, you could see the people crying, moving from their home, leaving everything behind. And it's awful. It's terrible. Nobody would like to have that experience. People lost everything, their home, their clothes. They left even their shoes behind.";
5. Various of demonstrators standing in with placards in hand;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) demonstrator (name not given):
"I object to my government spending my tax dollars to murder Palestinians, women, children and men, civilians who are not responsible for what Hamas did on October 7.";
7. Supporters holing placard reading "Resistance is justified when people are occupied!";
8. Supporters at rally;
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammad Qasim, rally organizer, Palestinian Youth Movement:
"Palestinians have such a strong connection to the land, and myself as an Arab and Palestinian in diaspora, the stories that my parents shared with me, of their experience as well as my grandparents stories of displacement, resonates with all of us, and that connection and longing that we have for our homeland remains strong.";
10. Various of supporters, placards reading "Generation after generation until total liberation" "Free Palestine";
11. Various of supporters holding banner reading "Resistance";
12. Flag of Palestine.

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