Braving the snipers and teargas shells on the Gaza border, a few youth in Gaza performed the traditional Dabke dance as part of the ‘Great Return March’ being held since May 30.

A video of the youth dancing their way has gone viral. The ‘Great Return March’ is being held to demand the Palestinian people’s right to return to their homeland, Israel.

The protest is being held since May 30, peacefully. These youth, taking a break from the protest, performed Dabke dance. Dabke dance is a traditional Arab folk dance performed at the wedding or joyous celebrations. Today, it has become a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

True to the spirit of the dance, the youth sporting rope in their hand and wearing Keffiyeh scarves – made famous by their legendary leader Yasser Arafat – performed the Dabke dance despite facing the danger of being shot by Israeli snipers.

In fact, this was one of the creative protests being held during the March of Return. Earlier, the protesters had demonstrated by hitting back tear gas canister with tennis racquets, reading books on anti-colonial history and so on. Yet, this did not spare the Gazans from being shot and killed by Israeli snipers. According to the Ministry of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as many as 135 people have been killed and over 15,000 have been injured so far.

SOURCE : http://www.bfirst.in/category/world/dabke-dance-palestinian-youth-face-bullets-gaza-border-499348