Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Land Day with Local Programs Amid Current Security Conditions

SadaNews - Arab crowds in the country are commemorating today, Monday, the 50th anniversary of Land Day, through a series of events including laying wreaths on the graves of the martyrs of Land Day in the towns of Sakhnin, Araba, Deir Hanna, Kfar Kanna, and Tayibe. Digital seminars are being organized in Umm al-Fahm, Rahat, and others.

Sakhnin: In light of the sensitive security conditions and the unusual circumstances the country is going through, the Sakhnin Municipality held an extensive consultative session to discuss ways to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the eternal Land Day, which coincides with today, March 30.

The session was attended by the municipality administration led by Mayor Mazen Ghnaim, representatives of the popular committee, representatives of the families of the martyrs, representatives from the towns of Araba and Deir Hanna, alongside Mansour Dahamsheh representing the Higher Follow-Up Committee for the Arab community, and the head of the parents' committee.

After discussions and listening to various opinions, and due to the imposed restrictions and security conditions resulting from the war on Iran, it was decided to cancel the planned national demonstration for this occasion.

It was also agreed that each town would commemorate this anniversary locally and individually, as deemed appropriate.

The program for commemorating Land Day in Sakhnin includes:

• Visiting the graves of the martyrs and laying wreaths.

• A brief and limited attendance at the memorial monument (with a symbolic number of participants).

• Issuing a special booklet about the anniversary of Land Day, and dedicating two remote lessons for school students, in coordination with the schools and the parents' committee.

• Examining the possibility of activating a car that roams the streets of the city throughout the day to broadcast slogans that commemorate the 50th anniversary.

• Examining the possibility of distributing stickers (in black with the keffiyeh) at the entrances of the city for entering and exiting cars.

The Sakhnin Municipality confirmed that it commemorates "the memory of the righteous martyrs of Land Day, who watered the soil of this land with their blood in defense of dignity and existence. This memory will remain a firm milestone in our consciousness, commemorated with responsibility and unity, despite all challenges."

In Araba, the program for Land Day includes:

10:00 - Laying wreaths and reciting Al-Fatiha at the grave of Land Day martyr Khair Yassin - (gathering at the grave).

10:30 - Proceeding with students to lay wreaths of Araba at the grave in Sakhnin (small group).

11:30 - 13:00 Historical seminar and live testimonies from Araba figures via Zoom (broadcast from the municipality).

19:00 - At the Lantern Roundabout - Distribution of Land Day poster + Land Day statement.

20:00 - Collectively visiting the family of martyr Khair Yassin and presenting the Land Day shield.

The Follow-Up Committee and the National Committee: Fifty years and Land Day remains alive in our hearts.

The Higher Follow-Up Committee and the National Committee of Arab Local Authorities announced last Saturday the cancellation of the annual 50th anniversary Land Day march scheduled for March 30, due to the war on Iran and to avoid dangers amid the current security situation and the falling of missiles and shells in the country.

The Follow-Up Committee stated in a special statement, "On the 50th anniversary of Land Day, on Monday, March 30, 2026, we stand in reverence and respect for the martyrs of the land and Land Day, who rose in defense of the land, existence, and dignity, and we affirm that their pure blood will not be in vain. Their sacrifices have shown all that the issue of land is our foremost concern: the issue of being or not being. After fifty years, we renew our pledge to continue commemorating their memory by defending the land for which they sacrificed."

The statement added, "Land Day was a pivotal moment in the history of our Palestinian Arab community in the interior, and it has become a national day for the Palestinian people wherever they may be, and it remains a bright flame on the path of national struggle, a symbol of attachment to the land, and a means to preserve identity and uphold rights."

The Follow-Up Committee also affirmed, "Fifty years have passed and Land Day remains alive in our collective memory. It is not just a commemoration but also a challenge we live, as projects and policies of confiscation and discrimination continue unabated. In the Negev, we face a serious escalation in house demolitions and land confiscation, even erasing entire villages. In the southern Triangle area, the authority is attempting to confiscate thousands of dunams under the pretext of constructing a road and a railway. In western Galilee, there is a massive confiscation plan under the guise of paving the northern part of the Trans-Israel Highway. In these areas and others, confiscation continues, and we are steadfast in defending our land, and we will continue to do so relentlessly, on the path of Land Day, which is our compass in defending our right to our land."

The statement noted that "the 50th anniversary arrives while our community is facing the scourge of crime and violence, which has escalated to extremely dangerous levels, in light of the complicity of the authorities and their intentional refusal to combat crime and criminals and organized crime groups. We engage in relentless struggle to achieve the simplest rights, which is the right to life and safety, without violence, crime, or extortion. This struggle will not cease until we achieve the desired goal: a secure community!"

It also addressed the American-Israeli war on Iran, stating, "The 50th anniversary of the eternal Land Day comes in the context of a bloody colonial and aggressive war ignited by Israel in partnership with the United States, aimed at dominating the countries and peoples of the region and their destinies and wills. We demand an immediate halt to the war and for the nuclear file to be resolved on the basis of establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, including the disarmament of nuclear weapons in Israel."

The statement highlighted that "Land Day arrives while Al-Aqsa Mosque has been arbitrarily closed since the beginning of Ramadan under the pretext of war, with the unprecedented occurrence of no Eid prayers being held there for the first time in centuries. The mosque is arbitrarily closed by the Israeli occupation while nearby places are filled with visitors. We demand the immediate opening of Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers, and we affirm that there is no authority or sovereignty for the occupation over Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, and we consider the closure decision a blatant assault on all Muslims. We urge Arab and Islamic countries to take their role in protecting the holy Al-Aqsa sanctuary."

Land Day comes amidst fierce battles on the ground, at a time of extreme danger for our Palestinian people, as Israel continues to seek total land confiscation and the complete displacement of its people, executing a campaign of genocide and total destruction in the Gaza Strip, and launching a criminal colonial-military offensive in the West Bank and holy Jerusalem. The Israeli leadership has placed the project of displacing the entire Palestinian people at the forefront of its colonial strategy, aiming to enact it through various means, primarily through violence and more criminal acts. Struggling against the new and old Israeli policies is a necessity for survival, not a political choice. Therefore, we call on Palestinian leaders to end division and achieve national unity immediately, before it's too late, to work together in saving the Palestinian cause and achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to freedom, independence, and return."

We are fighting a struggle for survival, and we assert: We will not depart from our land and homeland, no matter the costs!"

The Follow-Up Committee and the National Committee addressed the Arab masses in the country, stating, "In light of the exceptional circumstances and the ongoing state of emergency, amid war and bombardment and restrictions on gatherings, and to ensure the safety of our community, it will not be possible to organize a Land Day march this year. We made this decision with a spirit of responsibility, and it does not diminish the importance of the commemoration or our commitment to reviving it.

We call for visiting the families of the martyrs, graves, and memorials in Sakhnin, Araba, Kfar Kanna, and Tayibe, as has been practiced. The Follow-Up Committee for the Arab community also issued a special booklet on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Land Day, including a presentation of the events leading up to Land Day, the events of that historic day, its political and emotional impact on us, and the most critical challenges we face related to the land issue. We call for adopting the booklet as an educational material in schools, educational frameworks, movements, and national institutions to raise awareness and galvanize spirits in the struggle for land defense.

Land Day will remain a symbol of struggle and resilience, and our attachment to our land and our rights and national identity will not waver, no matter how severe the challenges become. We call for a fighting national unity in the spirit of Land Day and what this glorious day represents. Glory and immortality to our righteous martyrs! The land is ours, and we remain on our land! Stop the criminal wars!".