Palestinian solidarity day marked in Gaza

Hundreds of international activists and Gazans have commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, Press TV reports. The activists burned Israeli flags on Tuesday to protest the no-go-territory maintained by the Tel Aviv regime, where it directs its troops to open fire at Palestinians if they enter the area, Press TV's Gaza correspondent reported. The day is a UN-organized observance. Events are also held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, along with UN offices in Geneva and Vienna. The participants also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people that have been under Israeli occupation for decades. They carried Palestinian flags toward the electric fence demarcating the buffer zone. The buffer zone is important for the Palestinians as more than 30 percent of Gaza's most arable land lie in the area. In a statement to mark the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday that a Palestinian state was "long overdue." The UN chief said that a solution to the conflict must end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands. He added that a just solution must also be found for the millions of Palestinian refugees in the region.