Gaza protest death toll rises to three: Ministry
GAZA CITY: A 40-year-old Palestinian hit by Israeli fire on the Gaza border died of his wounds on Saturday, taking the death toll from protests the previous day to three, the territory’s health ministry said.
He was among at least 131 Palestinians wounded by Israeli bullets during Friday’s protests, even as an informal truce ending a deadly flare-up between Gaza rulers Hamas and the Israeli army largely held.
The health ministry identified the man as Ahmed Abu Lulu and said he was shot in a section of the border east of the southern city of Rafah, where the two other Palestinians were also killed.
The ministry had earlier identified the other two as Ali al Alul, 55, and volunteer medic Abdullah al Qatati, 21. Funerals for the three dead Palestinians took place on Saturday, attended by thousands of people.
Doctors and first responders were among the attendees, in a show of solidarity for Qatati.
On Friday, a few thousand protesters had gathered at various locations along the border, setting tyres ablaze and throwing stones, but in smaller numbers than in previous weeks, AFP correspondents said.
The European Union said Gaza and Israel were “dangerously close” to a new conflict and called for urgent efforts to protect civilians.
At least 168 Palestinians have been killed since the border protests began on March 30. – AFP