lang: en
Summary
From 30 March 2018 to 26 December 2019, Gazans protested every Friday at the Israeli border demanding the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and an end to the Israeli blockade. The protests, known as the Great March of Return, were met with lethal force by the Israeli military, resulting in over 36,100 injuries and 214 deaths. The campaign did not achieve its stated goals and was effectively ended when organizers scaled back demonstrations to once per month.
Tactics used
Tactics used
- unknown
Background
Since the Nakba in 1948, over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced, and many of their descendants live as registered refugees in Gaza under an Israeli blockade imposed in 2007. The blockade severely restricted movement and goods, and the United Nations deemed it collective punishment. Protesters demanded implementation of UN Resolution 194 for refugee return, an end to the siege, and rejection of the US embassy move to Jerusalem.
What happened
The idea for the protests originated from a Facebook post by journalist Ahmed Abu Artema on 7 January 2018, leading to the formation of a grassroots Return Committee that included multiple political factions [source: nv-database]. The first march on 30 March 2018, Land Day, drew 20,000-30,000 Palestinians who set up tent encampments at five border points and planned to stay until 15 May [source: nv-database]. Israeli forces declared a military zone within 300 meters of the fence and used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas, killing 18 and injuring over 700 on the first day [source: nv-database]. Weekly Friday protests continued with themes like Flag Day (13 April) and Women’s March (20 April), and included burning tires, stone throwing, and incendiary kites, though leaders maintained the protests were intended to be peaceful [source: nv-database]. The peak came on 14-15 May 2018, when 30,000 protesters gathered; the IDF killed 60 and injured over 1,100 that day [source: nv-database]. After May, attendance declined, and tensions within the Committee grew [source: nv-database]. On 26 December 2019, organizers announced protests would be monthly instead of weekly, effectively ending the campaign [source: nv-database]. By then, OCHA reported over 36,100 injured (including 8,800 children) and 214 killed (including 46 children) [source: nv-database]. A UN Commission of Inquiry found that Israeli forces likely committed war crimes by targeting civilians, while also noting Hamas failed to prevent dangerous objects from being thrown [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Ahmed Abu Artema
- Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege
- Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
- Fatah
- Hamas
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- Israeli Defense Forces
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Outcome
Verdict: lost.
The campaign achieved none of its six demands, scoring 0 out of 6 points for success, and received only 1 point for growth due to initial high attendance that later declined [source: nv-database]. The movement was unable to overcome the Israeli military’s lethal response and internal factional tensions, leading to its gradual dissolution without policy change.
Lessons
- Sustained nonviolent protests can mobilize tens of thousands but may be crushed by overwhelming state violence if the opponent is willing to use lethal force.
- Internal coalition unity is fragile and can erode over time, especially when demands are not met and repression continues.
- Media framing by both the movement and opponents can shape international perception, but may not translate into concrete political gains.
Sources
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py