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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 7 april 2018
7 killed, scores wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza protest

By FARES AKRAM and MO- during a protest on Tues-
HAMMED DARAGHMEH day. The six other deaths
Associated Press include three Palestinian
KHUZAA, Gaza Strip (AP) gunmen killed in what Israel
— Thousands of Palestin- said were attempts to at-
ians protested along Ga- tack the border fence and
za's sealed border with three men who were struck
Israel on Friday, engulfing by Israeli tank fire.
the volatile area in black Speaking at U.N. headquar-
smoke from burning tires ters in New York, Palestinian
to try to block the view of U.N. Ambassador Riyad
Israeli snipers and cheering Mansour put the death toll
a Hamas strongman who for Friday's protest at nine;
pledged that the border the discrepancy between
fence will eventually fall. that figure and the death
Israeli troops opened fire toll provided by the Gaza
from across the border, Health Ministry could not
killing at least seven Pales- immediately be explained.
tinians and wounding 293 More than 1,000 people
others — 25 of them seri- suffered a range of injuries
ously — in the second mass on Friday, including those
border protest in a week, hit by live fire and those
Gaza health officials said. overcome by tear gas, the
Hundreds more suffered Gaza health ministry said.
other injuries, including tear Twelve women and 48 mi-
gas inhalation, the officials nors were among those
said. hurt, the officials said.
The deaths brought to at At the United Nations,
least 29 the number of Pal- Secretary-General Antonio
estinians killed by Israeli fire Guterres urged all parties
since last week. Palestinian protesters gather in front of burned tires while Israeli soldiers fire teargas during clashes to exercise maximum re-
The latest casualties were with Israeli troops along Gaza's border with Israel, Friday, April 6, 2018. straint, said U.N. spokesman
bound to draw new criti- Associated Press Stephane Dujarric.
cism from rights groups He said U.N. Mideast envoy
that have branded Israel's the anniversary of Israel's The mass protests are per- shield them from Israeli Nickolay Mladenov had
open-fire orders on the bor- founding when Palestinians haps Hamas' last chance snipers; the faces of some been in touch with Israeli
der as unlawful, after Israel's commemorate their mass to break a border block- of the activists were cov- and Palestinian officials to
defense minister warned uprooting during the 1948 ade enforced by Israel ered in black soot. reinforce "the need to al-
that those approaching war over Israel's creation. and Egypt since 2007, with- Israeli troops on the other low people to demonstrate
the fence were risking their Israel has alleged that out having to succumb to side of the fence respond- peacefully." Mladenov
lives. Hamas is using the mass demands that it disarm. ed with live fire, tear gas, stressed the need to ensure
The U.N. human rights of- marches as a cover for at- The blockade has made rubber-coated steel pellets that "excessive force is not
fice said Friday that it has tacking the border fence, it increasingly difficult for and water cannons. used, and the need to en-
indications that Israeli forc- and has vowed to prevent Hamas to govern. It has After the first tires started sure that children are not
es used "excessive force" a breach at all costs. also devastated Gaza's burning, several young deliberately put in harm's
against protesters last The military said that on economy, made it virtually men with gunshot wounds way," Dujarric said.
week, when 15 Palestinians Friday, protesters hurled impossible for people to began arriving at a field A White House envoy urged
were killed or later died of several explosive devices enter and exit the territory, clinic at the camp. Palestinians to stay away
wounds sustained near the and firebombs, using the and left residents with just Mohammed Ashour, 20, from the fence. Jason
border. thick plumes of smoke from a few hours of electricity a who had been among the Greenblatt said the United
An Israeli military spokes- burning tires as a cover, day. first to set tires on fire, was States condemns "leaders
man defended the rules of and that several attempts Israel argues that Hamas shot in the right arm. and protesters who call for
engagement. to cross the fence were could have ended the suf- "We came here because violence or who send pro-
"If they are actively attack- thwarted. fering of Gaza's 2 million we want dignity," he said testers — including children
ing the fence, if they are Gaza's shadowy Hamas people by disarming and resting on a stretcher be- — to the fence, knowing
throwing a molotov cock- strongman, Yehiyeh Sinwar, renouncing violence. fore paramedics transport- that they may be injured or
tail that is within striking told a cheering crowd in Friday's marches began ed him to the strip's main killed."
distance of Israeli troops or one of the protest camps before Muslim noon prayers hospital. Hamas has billed the final
similar activities, then those Friday that a border breach when thousands of Pal- Yehia Abu Daqqa, a protest, set for May 15, as
persons, those rioters, be- is coming. estinians streamed to five 20-year-old student, said he the "Great March of Return"
come, may become, a tar- The world should "wait for tent encampments that or- had come to honor those of Palestinian refugees and
get," said Lt. Col. Jonathan our great move, when we ganizers had set up several killed in previous protests. their descendants, imply-
Conricus. penetrate the borders and hundred meters (yards) "Yes, there is fear," he said ing they would try to enter
Friday's large crowds sug- pray at Al-Aqsa," Sinwar from the border fence. of the risks of advancing Israel. Two-thirds of Gaza's
gested that Hamas, the said, referring to the major In one camp near the bor- toward the fence. "We are residents are descendants
Islamic militant group that Muslim shrine in Jerusalem. der community of Khuzaa, here to tell the occupation of refugees.
has ruled Gaza since a 2007 He was interrupted several smaller groups of activists that we are not weak." Palestinians commemorate
takeover, might be able to times by the crowd, who moved closer to the fence The death toll since last May 15 as their "nakba," or
keep the momentum go- chanted, "We are going to after the prayers. Demon- week includes at least 22 catastrophe, when hun-
ing in the next few weeks. Jerusalem, millions of mar- strators torched large piles civilians killed during the dreds of thousands were
Hamas has called for a se- tyrs!" and "God bless you of tires, engulfing the area two Friday protests at the uprooted from homes in
ries of protests until May 15, Sinwar!" in black smoke meant to border, as well as one killed what is now Israel.q