Israeli troops kill four at Palestinian protest

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops fired live rounds and tear gas as thousands of Palestinians protested near the Gaza border fence Friday, and at least four demonstrators were killed, including a teenage boy, with more than 600 wounded, Gaza health officials said.

More than 100 of the wounded, including a photographer for the French news agency Agence Press France, were hit by live fire, the officials added, as the demonstrators burned tires, threw stones and flew flaming kites in the latest in a series of mass protests to call attention to a decade-old blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt. Israel says Gaza’s Hamas leaders are using the protests as cover to carry out attacks.

Late Friday, Israel said Gaza militants opened fire and struck an Israeli military post. No injuries were reported.

The march coincided with the annual “Jerusalem Day,” instituted by Iran to protest Israeli rule of the holy city. Israel and Iran have been archenemies since Tehran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In the capitals of Iran and Iraq, thousands of Shiite Muslims marked Jerusalem Day with protests, with some chanting “Death to Israel” or burning Israeli flags and effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump. A Palestinian medic rushes to the aid of a protester who was hit in the mouth by a teargas canister fired by Israeli troops near the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel. At least four were killed and 600 wounded by Israeli fire in Friday’s protest.

Since the near-weekly protests began on March 30, more than 120 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,800 wounded by

Israeli army fire. The overwhelming majority of the dead and wounded have been unarmed, according to Gaza health officials.

Among the dead Friday was 15-year-old Haitham al-Jamal. His family said he was taking part in a protest in Rafah, in southern Gaza, when he was shot. A total of 12 children under age 16 have been killed in the protests.

French news agency Agence France-Presse said one of its photographers, Mohammed Abed al-Baba, was wounded at a mass rally after Israeli forces opened fire. AFP said al-Baba was wearing a press vest and helmet about 200 yards from the border when hurt.

Israel’s use of potentially lethal force against the protesters has drawn international criticism. Rights groups have said Israel’s open-fire rules are unlawful.