Clinton accepts nomination at DNC amid Palestinian flag controversy

The former secretary of state received ecstatic cheers from thousands of delegates as she strode into the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and then pledged to be a president for "all Americans."

The 68-year-old Clinton, needing to connect with voters in her biggest moment on the national stage, took aim at her Republican opponent, slamming him as a fear-monger with no policy credibility.

Clinton repeated the convention's theme of "stronger together," declaring that her lifelong goal has been to ensure that Americans can use their talent and ambition to help make the nation stronger.

"And so it is with humility, determination, and boundless confidence in America's promise, that I accept your nomination for president of the United States," she said.

Clinton's moment in the spotlight came eight years later than she might have hoped - in her first White House campaign, she was defeated in 2008 in her party's primary race by Barack Obama.

After a bruising primary campaign against self-declared democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, and even as she savaged and mocked Trump, Clinton extended an olive branch of sorts to her skeptics and critics.

"I will carry all of your voices and stories with me to the White House," she said, adding that her administration would incorporate several policies pushed by Sanders.

"I will be a president for Democrats, Republicans, and independents," she added. "For the struggling, the striving and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don't. For all Americans."

Throughout Clinton's speech, pockets of revolt emerged, mainly Sanders supporters who shouted out in protest but were quickly drowned out by Clinton supporters chanting "Hillary! Hillary!"

'We are not afraid'

The convention has been a parade of party heavyweights - including President Barack Obama who stirringly hailing Clinton as his political heir - and tweeted after her Thursday speech that "she's tested. She's ready. She never quits."

Clinton spoke of the strains that have been placed on US society during the toxic year-long campaign featuring heated rhetoric from Trump and other candidates.

"We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against. But we are not afraid," Clinton said, "We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have."

A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons - Hillary Clinton on Donald Trump

Clinton also rejected much of the Trump rhetoric that has been a constant on the trail, while mocking him as a thin-skinned candidate who "loses his cool" at the slightest provocation.

"Imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis," she said, "A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons."

There are now just 101 days until the election, and the pair will face off in their first presidential debate in late September.

Raising the Palestinian flag

As the Democratic convention opened on Monday, activists used the spotlight to draw attention to the Palestinian cause.

Pictures circulated on social media of supporters raising the Palestinian flag inside the convention at the Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia on Monday.

Others carried pro-Palestinian signs as footage also emerged of the burning of the Israeli flag outside the convention site.

A woman wearing a black bandanna on her face put the flag on fire on Tuesday night.

The episode drew criticism against many pro-Palestinian activists in the Democratic base, who were attempting to include support for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel (BDS) in the party platform, from pro-Israel media.

The now-official Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is a staunch supporter of Israel and is publically opposed to the BDS campaign.

Agencies contributed to this report.