Gaza border clashes with Israeli army wound dozens of Palestinian protesters
- A 13-year-old boy was shot in the head, health officials said, as Gazan protesters threw stones and burned tyres during a demonstration
- Hundreds took part in Saturday’s demonstration, which grew violent after people approached the border fence and threw stones at Israeli soldiers
Dozens of Palestinian protesters were injured on Saturday in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the borders between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, Palestinian doctors and eyewitnesses said.
The Ministry of Health said on Saturday that 41 demonstrators were injured by live ammunition, including 10 children, and two of them are in critical condition.
According to the army, an Israeli border policeman is also in critical condition.
The violent confrontations were reminiscent of the weekly order demonstrations organised by Gaza’s Hamas rulers in 2018 and 2019 staged to draw attention to Israel’s stifling blockade over the tiny seaside territory.
Hundreds of people took part in Saturday’s demonstration, which grew violent after dozens of people approached the fortified border fence and threw rocks toward Israeli soldiers from behind a black smoke screen spewing from burning tyres. Israeli troops fired tear gas and live rounds toward the protesters.
