On Saturday Scottish Celtic Football Club raised Palestinian flags during a match with Ross County FC in solidarity with the 16 Palestinians who were martyred by the Israeli army on Friday.

Celtic fans raised 16 Palestinian flags for the 16 protesters in the Gaza Strip who were shot dead by Israeli soldiers while participating in peaceful Land Day demonstrations near the Gaza-Israel border.

The Scottish Football Association imposed a fine on Celtic Football Club – which is known for its support to the Palestinian cause – after its fans raised dozens of Palestinian flags during the club’s match with Israeli team Hapoel Be’er Shevain in the first round of the European League Championship.

Read: Gerry Adams’ call for Irish government to expel Israeli ambassador commended

The fans responded by raising an amount equal to the fine, which they donated to Palestinian refugees. In return, Palestinian refugees at a camp in Bethlehem raised money to pay the fine imposed on the club.

The Great March of Return, which started on Friday, marked the beginning of a series of protests that will continue until Nakba Day on 15 May, the anniversary of the establishment of the Israeli State on their historic land.

The demonstrators are demanding that Palestinian refugees be allowed to return to the towns and villages from which they were displaced when the Israeli State was established in 1948.