University of Houston activists place 'Free Palestine' sign above U.S. 59

On Tuesday, student activists from the University of Houston hung up large protest signs reading "Free Palestine" and "Hands off Jerusalem" on the highway's iconic bridges.

See photos of Gaza protests that have turned deadly his week. less On Tuesday, student activists from the University of Houston hung up large protest signs reading "Free Palestine" and "Hands off Jerusalem" on the highway's iconic bridges.

See photos of Gaza protests that ... more Photo: SJP Houston Photo: SJP Houston Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close University of Houston activists place 'Free Palestine' sign above U.S. 59 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

Colorful lights weren't the only thing commuters saw on U.S. 59 this week.

On Tuesday, student activists from the University of Houston hung up large protest signs reading "Free Palestine" and "Hands off Jerusalem" on the highway's iconic bridges.

Mohammad Abdel-Aziz, a member of Students for Justice in Palestine, told Chron.com there's no shortage of reasons why he and several other students put up the display during the early morning hours.

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"Tuesday was the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, which translates to 'catastrophe," Abdel-Aziz said. "... 70 years ago in 1948, over 750,000 Palestinians were pushed out of their home, more than 500 villages were destroyed, including my hometown, Saffuriyya."

According to the BBC, up to 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes because of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The displaced refugees and their descendants were never allowed to return— the motivation behind this month's "Great Return March."

"While Israelis call it their independence, it was our Nakba, it was the destruction of our home," Abdel-Aziz said

Abdel-Aziz said another reason for the display was the ongoing human rights crisis along the Israeli-Gaza border.

At least 60 Palestinian protestors, including children, have been killed by Israeli gunfire and more than 2,700 injured while gathering and attempting to cross and protest near the Gaza-Israeli border in the past week, reports the New York Times.

Israel says it is defending its border and claims Hamas is attempting to infiltrate their territory under the cover of protests.

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The same group of student activists also held a protest outside the Consulate of Israel in Houston on Tuesday.

Check out Olivia P. Tallet's reporting on the group of roughly 50 activists and the consulate's response to the protest on Houston Chronicle.

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.