GAZA, Palestine, April 13 (NNN-WAFA) – The Israeli army shot dead a Palestinian boy on Friday, and wounded dozens others during clashes with hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israeli, according to medics.
Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, told reporters that, Maysara Abu Shaloof, 15 years old from the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, immediately died of an Israeli gunshot in his abdomen.
Al-Qedra added that, 66 demonstrators were injured, including 15 children and two paramedics.
Friday’s clashes were part of the weekly anti-Israel protests that have been going on in eastern Gaza Strip, since the start of the rallies and protests, better known as the Great March of Return on March 30, last year.
Al-Qedra said that 272 Palestinian demonstrators had been killed and more than 30,000 injured.
The High Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Israeli Siege had earlier on Friday called on the populations to join the weekly protests in eastern Gaza.
The demonstrators gathered in the area close to the border with Israel and clashed with Israeli soldiers stationed on the borderline area. The soldiers fired tear gas and live gunfire at the demonstrators.
The Great March of Return is calling on Israel to end 12 years of blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip, right after the Hamas movement had seized control of the territory in 2007.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader, who joined the Friday rallies in eastern Gaza City, told the crowds of participants in the rallies that, the march of return will go on until the marches meet the demands of the demonstrators in ending the siege.
Over the past few months, Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar have been mediating a calm understanding between Hamas and Israel, to defuse tension on the border.
“The occupation (Israel) has no choice but to abide by the understandings, which were mediated by Egypt, on achieving calm in the Gaza Strip,” said al-Hayya, adding that, “understandings still exist and we observe the occupation’s behaviour.”
The commission of the march of return called on the populations to join the upcoming Friday rally, April 17, which is the annual Palestinian Prisoners’ Day anniversary.– NNN-WAFA
