Four Palestinian youths killed as Gaza marks year since start of weekly protests
Hamas-run health ministry said Belal al-Najjar, Adham Amara, Tamer Abu el-Khair, all 17, and Mohammed Saad, 21, were killed
A fourth young Palestinian has died as tens of thousands of protesters gathered near the Israeli border to mark the first anniversary of weekly demonstrations in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s health ministry said Belal al-Najjar, 17, was killed by an Israeli gunshot at one of five protest locations on Saturday.
Earlier, Tamer Abu el-Khair, 17, was shot in the chest in the southern city of Khan Younis and died in hospital, while Adham Amara, also 17, was hit in the face by Israeli gunfire and died in a protest camp in east Gaza City.
At dawn, before the protests began, Mohammed Saad, 21, was hit in the head by shrapnel and died.
The health ministry said 64 protesters have been injured by live fire.
In response, five rockets were fired by Palestinians into Israel overnight, according to Times of Israel.
The Israeli Defence Forces took to Twitter to say that “In response to the rockets fired from Gaza at Israel earlier this evening, IDF tanks struck a number of Hamas military posts in the Gaza Strip.”
EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE: Violence today on Israel’s border with Gaza. IDF soldiers are stationed along the border to protect Israeli families under attack. #StopHamas pic.twitter.com/XFHm14YNOy
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 30, 2019
As the crowds swelled throughout the afternoon in response to Gaza’s Hamas terror rulers’ calls for a large participation, dozens of protesters approached the fence, unfurling Palestinian flags and throwing rocks and explosives towards Israeli troops.
The protest came at a sensitive time for Israel and Hamas.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking his fourth consecutive term in April 9 elections, but is facing a serious challenge from a group of ex-army chiefs who have criticised what they say is his failed Gaza policy.
In the final stretch of the campaign, he needs to keep the Israel-Gaza frontier quiet, without seeming to make concessions to Hamas.
He took heavy criticism this week for what was seen as a soft response to renewed rocket fire out of Gaza.
Hamas faces growing unrest in Gaza as a result of worsening conditions after more than a decade of Israeli and Egyptian border closures.
The fence protests, which began exactly a year ago, have been aimed in large part at breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza.
Protest organisers say the weekly event will continue into a second year, and proposed one for next Friday.
That comes despite an announcement by Hamas on Saturday afternoon that Egypt, mediating between the terror group and Israel, has brokered a deal to ease Gaza’s blockade in exchange for calm.
The emerging deal would see Israel allow more goods into Gaza, expanding its fishing zone off the coast and other economic incentives.
But Hamas says the marches will continue until the closure is fully lifted.
The Israeli military estimated 30,000 Palestinians were gathered at the marches on Saturday.
“The rioters are hurling rocks and setting tyres on fire. In addition, a number of grenades and explosive devices have been hurled at the Gaza Strip security fence,” it said in a statement.
It added that soldiers were responding with “riot dispersal means” and firing in line with standard procedures.
According to a Gaza rights group, 196 Palestinians have been killed in the demonstrations over the past year, including 41 minors, and thousands were wounded by live fire.
An Israeli soldier was also killed in the context of the marches.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.