THOUSANDS of Palestine supporters are expected to march in London and world-wide today to mark the 75th anniversary of the ethnic cleansing in the creation of Israel.

The Nakba — or the catastrophe — took place on May 15 1948.

Around 750,000 Palestinians were evicted from their homes as 500 communities were destroyed for the creation of the state of Israel.

Hundreds of thousands still live in refugee camps in neighbouring countries and in Gaza in Palestine.

Israel has been accused of creating an “apartheid state” and continues to expand into other areas of Palestine.

Violence against Palestinians is mounting following the election of a far-right Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The demonstration in London on Saturday is billed as “Nakba 75 — End apartheid, End the Occupation.”

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) director Ben Jamal said: “This march will be both an act of solidarity to remind Palestinians living under apartheid that they are not alone and a call for continued action to end the complicity of the British government, public bodies, companies and corporations in providing support for Israel’s system of oppression.”

It comes as direct-action group Palestine Action stepped up its campaign to close Israeli arms manufacturers in Britain by attacking the offices of a transport and logistics company in Leicester today.

Activists targeted Kuehne and Nagel, a global transport and logistics company which the direct action group said works with Israeli-owned weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in Britain.

Elbit manufactures drones and pilotless warplanes which are supplied to the Israeli military.

Palestine Action said: “The activists smashed their way into the building, and covered the premises in spray paint, while taking apart office equipment including phones and computers.”

The London march begins in Portland Place at 12pm to rally outside Downing Street.

Leading the protest will be a cohort of young British Palestinians holding keys — an affirmation of the right to return for Palestinian refugees, those driven into exile in 1948 and their descendants.

In Manchester tomorrow, 14 organisations which support Palestine will take part in a rally and march, gathering at Costume Museum, Platt Fields Park, Platt Lane, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5LL