Clashes ensue during protests along Gaza Strip border
Palestinians continue to burn tires, throw stones at soldiers
One Palestinian was reportedly killed and 14 Palestinians were injured in clashes along the Gaza-Israel border during the continued weekly March of Return protests, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Some 8,000 Palestinians gathered in five locations along the border on Friday, when the weekly protest erupted in violence.
Organizers held this week’s protest under the banner “Normalization is treason” and called on protesters to continue these demonstrations until the “siege” was lifted, according to The Jerusalem Post’s sister publication Maariv.
“The participation of thousands of demonstrators in marches is a response to all attempts at intimidation and smuggling aimed at preventing the demonstrations, and the Palestinian public will continue its struggle to lift the siege once and for all,” according to a Hamas spokesperson.
Protesters continued to burn tires and throw stones at IDF soldiers. While a few approached the border fence, the majority decided to stand back, according to the IDF. Presumably, demonstrators were following orders handed down from Egypt to stay away from the border fence to maintain the calm with Israel after the ceasefire.
Israel’s liaison to the Palestinians Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rokun issued a warning to the potential protesters, “We will not show restraint and will not be lenient against anyone who violates the following orders: Anyone who approaches a distance of 100 meters from the fence will put himself in danger, and I suggest that you wake up and understand that Hamas and the other terrorist organizations are leading you to the edge of the abyss. Understand this before it’s too late.”