The Great Return March is a milestone and a turning point in the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people against the occupation, said Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem.

In a press release on the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Great Return March protests, Qasem explained such protests came as the “largest response” to attempts by the US administration and Israeli occupation government to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

These demonstrations have reprioritised core aspects of the Palestinian cause, above all the right of return, which has drawn international attention, Qasem added.    

Qasem stressed that the Great Return March had confused the Israeli occupation, which mistakenly thought that its years-long siege on the Gaza Strip would discourage the Palestinian people from sticking to their rights.

The Great Return March has embodied a sense of unity in its best form among the Palestinian people, Qasem continued. 

Qasem concluded that these peaceful, weekly protests proved that the Palestinian people had an ability to come up with new means of resistance in their struggle against the occupation.