Dozens of Palestinians were injured with live Israeli ammunition as Israeli forces suppressed weekly protests along the eastern borders of the besieged Gaza Strip under “The Great March of Return,” on Friday.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed that over 100 Palestinians were injured with live ammunition, while others suffered tear-gas inhalation.
Dr Ashraf Al-Qudra, Gaza Ministry of Health: We deny media reports that there are martyrs in the hospitals, up until now… https://t.co/xc7Z1UI2YQ
— Marian Houk (@Marianhouk) October 19, 2018
A Ma’an reporter said that Palestinian crowds gathered alongside the eastern borders of districts of the Gaza Strip for the 30th Friday of “The Great March of Return” protests.
Dozens of Palestinians attempted to approach the fence separating Gaza from Israel and several were able to cut through the fence.
?Palestinian Ministry of Health – Gaza
Great March of Return Casualties Update
19102018 – 6pm Injured: 115
Hospitalized: 77
One of them is a press crew member.— Anoos Arafat (@AnoosArafat) October 19, 2018
Israeli forces heavily and continuously opened fire at protesters.
Protesters set fire to tires to blur the vision of Israeli snipers deployed at the borders.
Palestinian Ministry of Health: 115 (77 with live ammunition) Palestinians have been injured so far today during the #GreatReturnMarch protests, including a journalist and two paramedics. #Gaza pic.twitter.com/FjzIWgei4L
— Maha Hussaini (@MahaGaza) October 19, 2018
Witnesses told a Ma’an reporter than an Israeli tank heavily opened fire at protesters in eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli airstrikes were also carried out in Khan Younis and the al-Breij refugee camp; two injuries were reported due to the airstrikes.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians flock to Gaza 'borders' to protest their basic rights today. #GreatReturnMarch pic.twitter.com/2s7m8UHuuO
— Muhammad Smiry | Gaza (@MuhammadSmiry) October 19, 2018
Since the beginning of “The Great March of Return” on March 30, thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza — which has suffered from a decade-long Israeli siege — have been protesting at the eastern borders of the besieged enclave to demand their right of return as refugees to their original homelands, now in present-day Israel.
(Ma’an, PC, Social Media)
