Two Gazans killed, dozens wounded, in border protests
Senior Hamas figures take part in 19th week of demos, dedicated to terrorist who killed father from Adam
Two Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded over the weekend as violent protests continued along the Gaza border fence amid talks of a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.
On Saturday the IDF said it had fired on two groups of Palestinians in the northern and southern Gaza Strip who were launching incendiary balloons into the South. Over the weekend close to 30 fires started by incendiary aerial devices ravaged the South, with 26 on Friday alone.
Wafa news agency identified the two fatalities as 15 year-old Moath Ziad al-Sory from the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Strip, who had been shot in the stomach by IDF troops during riots. The other was identified as 25-year-old Ahmad Yaghi.
Another 220 were wounded during the protests on Friday, 90 of them by gunfire.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the two deaths over the weekend brings the number of Gazans killed since the start of the weekly March of Return protests to 157.
Several clashes erupted along the Gaza border on Friday as 8,000 Palestinians took part in the weekly border demonstrations, burning tires and hurling rocks and explosive devices toward IDF troops.
According to Palestinian Maan News, the 19th week of the protests were held under the slogan “Martyr of Jerusalem, Muhammad Yousef,” referring to the 17-year-old Palestinian terrorist who stabbed Yotam Ovadia to death in the West bank settlement of Adam last week.
Amid the riots, a group of Palestinian men breached the border fence with Israel near the old Karni crossing, throwing explosive devices and Molotov cocktails before retreating back into Gaza.
IDF forces shelled a Hamas outpost in response. No injuries were reported.
Senior Hamas figures participated in Friday’s demonstrations, including deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, leaders Mousa Abu Marzouk and Izzet al-Rishak, Yahya Sinwar and his deputy, Khalil al-Hayya, as well as Qatar-based spokesman Husan Badran, who held a picture of Muhammad Yousef during his speech.
The officials arrived in the Strip on Thursday through Egypt to negotiate a cease-fire with Israel and a reconciliation deal with the Palestinian Authority.