At least 20 people injured in fresh violence at Gaza-Israel border
- Israel’s army had reinforced its Gaza division following Saturday’s border violence that critically injured an Israeli officer and killed a Palestinian
- There were indications that Hamas Islamists, who have ruled the Israeli-blockaded strip since 2007, wanted to prevent Wednesday’s protest from escalating
About 20 Palestinians were injured in unrest with Israeli forces at Gaza’s border on Wednesday, medical sources said, but the protest was more muted than a weekend demonstration that left dozens wounded.
Israel’s army had reinforced its Gaza division following Saturday’s border violence, that left an Israeli officer in critical condition from a gunshot wound and killed a 32-year-old Palestinian.
There were indications that Hamas Islamists, who have ruled the Israeli-blockaded strip since 2007, wanted to prevent Wednesday’s protest from escalating.
Hamas security personnel formed a human chain seeking to prevent Palestinians from approaching the border fence, although clashes with Israeli troops erupted when some people broke through the barrier, throwing grenades and stones at soldiers, an Agence France-Presse reporter said.
Gaza medical sources said the Israelis fired live rounds in response, causing injuries.