Palestinians rally to mark anniversary of "Great March of Return"

Gaza, march 30 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian demonstrators started to rally on Saturday in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, to mark one year of the "Great march of Return" and the Palestinian "Land Day".

The high commission of the march, which comprises factions, rights activists and Gaza community leaders, has earlier called on residents in Gaza and the Palestinians everywhere to join rallies on Saturday near the fence of the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel.

A general strike dominated the Gaza Strip, while the ministries of health and interior, which are run by the Islamic Hamas movement, declared a status of emergency.

The official governmental and private sector's institutions closed on Saturday, including schools, universities and stores all over the Gaza Strip, except medical institutions, clinics and hospitals.

Organizing rallies on Saturday coincides with the Palestinian "Land Day".

Land Day, on march 30, is an annual day of commemoration for Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians of the general strike and marches happened in 1976 against Israeli government's plan to expropriate land.

The Hamas-run ministry of interior called on all of its security members and officers to provide all the needed aid and support to the demonstrators and the journalists.

Meanwhile, the Israeli media announced that the Israeli army deployed more forces along the border with the Gaza Strip and said the forces are ready for any escalation of violence.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad warned in two separate press statements that "any aggression that targets the march will face the response of resistance."

The Great march of Return, which started one year ago, has been calling for ending the tight Israeli blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip right after Hamas' violent takeover of the coastal enclave in 2007.