By ANN Staff Writer
On May 15, 2011, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) successfully dissipated multiple violent protests and border infiltrations on Nakba Day, in Arabic, “day of catastrophe” – the annual commemoration of the Palestinian people of the creation of the State of Israel.
Early reports indicated thousands of Syrians had attempted to infiltrate the northern Israeli border. Of the hundreds who succeeded at entering the Israeli border town of Majdal Shams, injuries were sustained only when the mob’s attempted destruction of security infrastructures was met by IDF gunfire. Thirteen people were lightly injured, including ten IDF soldiers, who were struck by stones.
At the Lebanese border, thousands gathered. Over a hundred were wounded and ten reported killed. According to the IDF, the injuries were the result of the Lebanese Army’s attempt to disperse the crowds with gunfire.
Multiple riots broke out in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) resulting in tire burning, fire bombing, and rock hurling. Up to six hundred rioters clashed with security forces in Qalandiya, south of Ramallah.
Hundred’s of Palestinian rioters gathered at the humanitarian aid crossing in Gaza, hurling rocks at IDF soldiers. The Israeli Defense Force fired gunshots in a controlled manner to prevent rioters from crossing into Israel, yet a number of Palestinians were injured.
Initial reports tally 12 deaths – one Israeli and 11 protestors.
At least one Syrian protestor asked for asylum in Israel. According to Ynetnews, the infiltrator had reportedly said, “We crossed the borders to stay with our families away from the killing in Syria. We asked the powers at be in Israel to help us stay and not send us back.”
The original Facebook Nakba battle cry and call for Muslims world-wide to advance upon Israel, in the end diffused to numbers ranging in the thousands rather than in the millions as originally threatened.
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