GAZA, Palestine, Feb 9 (NNN-WAFA) – At least two Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded, on Friday afternoon, by Israeli soldiers’ gunfire, during clashes with hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators in the eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics said.
Ashraf al-Qedra, health ministry spokesman in Gaza, told reporters, Hamza Ishteiwi, 18, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers’ gunfire, in eastern Gaza.
Al-Qedra said, earlier Friday, that, Hassan Shalabi, 14, was killed by Israeli soldiers’ gunfire east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, also close to the border with Israel.
He noted that dozens were injured in eastern Gaza, including 17 shot by live Israeli soldiers’ gunshots, adding that, they were referred to hospitals all over Gaza, while the others were treated by paramedics in the field.
Hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators arrived Friday afternoon in eastern Gaza Strip, to join the 46th rallies, part of a weekly anti-Israel protests, better known as the “Great March of Return,” which started late last Mar.
Eyewitnesses said, the demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, chanted anti-Israel slogans and threw stones at the soldiers stationed at the border.
In return, the soldiers fired dozens of tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, who suffered suffocation, after inhaling the tear gas, according to field paramedics, adding that, the soldiers opened fire at demonstrators who approached the fence of the border.
Since last Mar, Israeli soldiers have shot and killed more than 250 Palestinians and wounded 26,000 others, most of them injured by live ammunition, according to Gaza Health Ministry’s figures.– NNN-WAFA
