Gazans bury dead, threaten revenge
1,400 Palestinians were wounded, 758 of them by live fire used by Israeli forces
gaza city — Gazans buried their dead on Saturday with calls for “revenge” a day after a major demonstration led to clashes that saw Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians in the bloodiest day since a 2014 war.
But while anger seethed over Friday’s events, only several hundred protesters had returned to tents erected at different sites near the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel by mid-afternoon to resume demonstrations planned to last six weeks in the blockaded enclave.
Thousands attended funerals for 14 of those killed — two were buried on Friday — with mourners holding Palestinian flags and some chanting “revenge” and firing into the air.
The armed wing of Hamas said that five of those killed were members who were participating “in popular events side-by-side with their people.”
“Where are you, Arabs? Where are you, Muslims?” mourners chanted at one funeral, calling on the Arab and Muslim world to intervene.
A general strike was also being held in both the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
Minor clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians broke out in Hebron, while a small protest was held in Nablus, both in the West Bank.
Israel defended its soldiers’ actions, when troops opened fire on Palestinians who strayed from the main tent city protest and approached the heavily fortified fence cutting off the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military says it opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers.
It also said there were attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate Israel, while alleging there was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no casualties.
Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, while human rights groups questioned Israel’s use of live fire.
Unverified videos were being shared online, including one appearing to show a protester being shot while running with a tyre.
UN chief Antonio Guterres called for an “independent and transpar-
The United Nations Secretary-General calls for an independent and transparent investigation into these incidents. Farhan Haq, Guterres’ deputy spokesaman
ent investigation.” In addition to the 16 killed, more than 1,400 were wounded, 758 of them by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, said the Gazan health ministry.
No casualties were reported among Israelis.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning and in a speech said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths.
His spokesman on Saturday called on the United States at the UN Security Council to not provide “cover for Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinian people.” —
There is fear that the situation might deteriorate in the coming days. All sides need to exercise maximum restraint. Taye-Brook Zerihoun, UN assistant secy-gen for political affairs
The risk of escalation is very real. There is a strong possibility that a new conflict may erupt in the Gaza Strip. French representative at the Security Council