Israeli forces have attacked Palestinian protesters gathering at the fence between the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied territories, leaving more than 70 people injured.
The Health Ministry of Gaza released the casualty toll on Friday. It said the Israeli forces also wounded three medics.
“Seventy Palestinians were wounded with various injuries, including 40 live bullets,” it said, but did not clarify the nature of the remaining casualties.
Hundreds of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip headed early on Friday toward the security fence to participate in the anti-occupation protests known as the Great March of Return.
They were holding Palestinian flags, chanting slogans and praising Al Aqsa Mosque.
Demonstrators demand an end to Israel’s 12-year-old blockade to the Gaza Strip, which has shattered the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of free movement in and out from Gaza and prevented many basic amenities.
The Higher National Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking of the Gaza Siege, formed by Palestinian factions , named this Friday’s rallies “We are ready to protect Al Aqsa” in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first attempt to burn Al Aqsa Mosque and the continued repressive procedures by the Israeli authorities in Jerusalem.
Since the Gaza rallies began in March last year, nearly 270 protesters have been killed — and thousands more wounded — by Israeli forces at the security fence areas with Gaza.
