GAZA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement chief Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip "is a challenge to the peace initiative of United States President Donald Trump and those who support it."

"The march is a message to Trump ... that there is no concession to Jerusalem, no alternative to Palestine, and no solution but to return," said Haniyeh, who also joined the march.

He stressed that the march is the start of the return to historic Palestine, stressing that "the Palestinian people today have the initiative, and make the event before the eyes of the world."

"This is the Palestinian people taking the initiative and making the event for the sake of Palestine, all Palestine, for the sake of Jerusalem, and the right of return," Haniyeh said in a speech to tens of thousands of the march participants in eastern Gaza.

Haniyeh stressed that the Palestinian people affirms their adherence to their rights and unity.

On the anniversary of the Land Day, Haniyeh paid tribute to the Palestinians of 1948 with all the salute and praise, especially the martyrs of the immortal Land Day in 1976.

He also extended his greetings to the Palestinian people in all places of residence, saying that the Palestinians had dropped all the bets.

"We clearly declare, and in light of this popular movement, that we and our people will not accept that the issue of return remains a slogan repeated by people, but we work very hard to embody this in all ways," said Haniyeh.

Earlier Friday, thousands of Palestinians marched towards the borderline area between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel to mark the Land Day and to start a one-and-half-month activity that will end on May 15, the day of al-Nakba, or catastrophe, when Israel was born.

Clashes broke out between young demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed on the border. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that one Palestinian was killed and 54 injured all over the coastal enclave.