Palestinian demonstrators gather east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday during a protest marking 71th anniversary of Nakba -- also known as Day of the Catastrophe in 1948. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
Palestinian medics carry a wounded woman demonstrator. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI
Palestinian demonstrators hurl rocks towards Israeli soldiers. The protest was restrained from last year, when Nakba Day merged with a protest against the United States decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, leading to 61 deaths. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
Palestinians mark Nakba Day commemorating the mass displacement of Palestinians during the war surrounding Israel's establishment in 1948. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
At least 47 Palestinians were wounded in the protest. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
Palestinian amputees using crutches participate in the protest. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
A Palestinian protester throw back Israeli tear gas canisters during clashes with Israeli forces. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
Palestinian protesters hold an effigy depicting U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
"Nakba" means "catastrophe" in Arabic, in reference to the birth of the state of Israel 71 years ago in British-mandate Palestine. The change led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the 1948 war over Israel's creation. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
Palestinians hold national flags standing on the rubble of a destroyed building during a demonstration. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
Signs typically have a key featured on them, which symbolizes the homes left by Palestinians in 1948. More than 760,000 Palestinians, estimated today to number 5 million with their descendants, were pushed into exile or driven out of their homes. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 194 in 1948 establishing that refugees wishing to return to their homes to live in peace could do so, though this has never been settled. Palestinians ares still living as refugees. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/ UPI
May 15 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Health Ministry reported the protest numbers as Palestinians mark the creation of Israel and claim of thousands of displaced Arabs during the 1948 war. Nakba is the Palestinian word for "catastrophe."
The protest was restrained from last year, when Nakba Day merged with a protest against the United States decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, leading to 61 deaths. Hamas placed members in orange vests between protesters and the security fence in hopes of restraining violence, the Jerusalem Post reported.
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"We don't want to give the Israeli military forces any excuse to hurt our young people, and we don't want to increase tensions in the border region," Palestinian official Talal Abu Zarifa told Haaretz.
The Israeli defense deployed forces in "key trouble spots" along the Gaza border Wednesday in anticipation of possible riots.
The Palestinians and Israelis are in the middle of a fragile cease-fire deal agreed to in early May after both sides were involved some of the most intense fighting in the past five years. As part of the agreement, Israel opened Gaza crossings and expanded the region's fishing zone.