Dozens of Palestinians injured by Israeli forces during Gaza protests

At least 60 Palestinians were injured during clashes on Friday along Gaza's border, the health ministry in the besieged coastal enclave said.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

27 April, 2019

At least 264 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since 2018 [Getty]

At least 60 Palestinians were injured during clashes on Friday along Gaza's border, including 36 shot and wounded by Israeli fire, the health ministry in the coastal enclave said.

"60 people were injured by (Israeli) occupation forces" and of these 36 were shot by live fire, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said approximately 7,000 "rioters and demonstrators" had gathered in multiple spots along the heavily-fortified border.

Demonstrators "hurled rocks and a number of explosive devices" towards troops, she said, with forces responding in "accordance with standard procedures".

Palestinians in Gaza have for more than a year gathered at least weekly along the border for often-violent protests, calling on Israel to end its blockade of the enclave.

At least 264 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since the protests began.

The majority were killed during clashes, with others hit by tank fire or air strikes.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period.

Two million Palestinians live in impoverished Gaza, crammed between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean.

Israel, which has fought three wars with Hamas, has blockaded the enclave for more than a decade, and Egypt often closes Gaza's only other gateway to the outside world.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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