At least 15 Palestinians killed in Land Day protests
AlJazeera, March 30, 2018
More than
1,400 others wounded by Israeli forces during march calling for return of
Palestinian refugees to their lands.
1,400 others wounded by Israeli forces during march calling for return of
Palestinian refugees to their lands.
 |
| A Palestinian protester wounded by Israeli sniper fire during Land Day protests east of Gaza City [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera] |
At least
15 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,400 others wounded by Israeli
forces as thousands marched near Gaza’s border with Israel
in a major demonstration marking the 42nd anniversary of Land Day.
Mohammed
Najjar, 25, was shot in the stomach in a clash east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, while Mahmoud
Muammar, 38, and Mohammed Abu Omar, 22, were both shot dead in Rafah, the
Palestinian health ministry said in a statement on Friday.
Najjar, 25, was shot in the stomach in a clash east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, while Mahmoud
Muammar, 38, and Mohammed Abu Omar, 22, were both shot dead in Rafah, the
Palestinian health ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The other
11 victims were identified as Ahmed Odeh, 19, Jihad Freneh, 33, Mahmoud Saadi
Rahmi, 33, Abdelfattah Abdelnabi, 22, Ibrahim Abu Shaar, 20, Abdelqader
al-Hawajiri, Sari Abu Odeh, Hamdan Abu Amsheh, Jihad Abu Jamous, Bader
al-Sabbagh and Naji Abu Hjair, whose ages remain unknown.
11 victims were identified as Ahmed Odeh, 19, Jihad Freneh, 33, Mahmoud Saadi
Rahmi, 33, Abdelfattah Abdelnabi, 22, Ibrahim Abu Shaar, 20, Abdelqader
al-Hawajiri, Sari Abu Odeh, Hamdan Abu Amsheh, Jihad Abu Jamous, Bader
al-Sabbagh and Naji Abu Hjair, whose ages remain unknown.
Earlier
on Friday, Omar Waheed Abu Samour, a farmer from Gaza, was also killed by
Israeli artillery fire while standing in his land near Khan Younis, just hours
before the demonstrations.
on Friday, Omar Waheed Abu Samour, a farmer from Gaza, was also killed by
Israeli artillery fire while standing in his land near Khan Younis, just hours
before the demonstrations.
There has
been no confirmation from the Israeli army of the attack that killed
Samour.
been no confirmation from the Israeli army of the attack that killed
Samour.
More than
1,400 others were also wounded after Israeli forces fired live ammunition at
protesters and used tear gas to push them back from a heavily fortified fence,
according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
1,400 others were also wounded after Israeli forces fired live ammunition at
protesters and used tear gas to push them back from a heavily fortified fence,
according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
According
to the ministry, the majority were injured in live fire, rubber-coated steel
bullets and tear gas inhalation.
to the ministry, the majority were injured in live fire, rubber-coated steel
bullets and tear gas inhalation.
Protesters
in Gaza gathered in five different spots along the border, originally
positioned about 700 metres away from the fence.
in Gaza gathered in five different spots along the border, originally
positioned about 700 metres away from the fence.
Adalah, a
legal centre for Palestinian rights in Israel, condemned the Israeli forces’
use of force, calling it a violation of international law.
legal centre for Palestinian rights in Israel, condemned the Israeli forces’
use of force, calling it a violation of international law.
“Live
gunfire on unarmed civilians constitutes a brutal violation of the international
legal obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants,” the
group said in a statement.
gunfire on unarmed civilians constitutes a brutal violation of the international
legal obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants,” the
group said in a statement.
It also
said that it would launch an investigation to “demand that those found
responsible for the killings be brought to justice”.
said that it would launch an investigation to “demand that those found
responsible for the killings be brought to justice”.
Land Day
Friday’s
demonstration commemorates Land Day,
which marks the day – March 30, 1976 – when six unarmed Palestinian citizens of
Israel were killed by Israeli forces during protests against the Israeli
government’s decision to expropriate massive tracts of Palestinian land.
demonstration commemorates Land Day,
which marks the day – March 30, 1976 – when six unarmed Palestinian citizens of
Israel were killed by Israeli forces during protests against the Israeli
government’s decision to expropriate massive tracts of Palestinian land.
According
to Israeli media, Israel’s army deployed more than 100 snipers on the other
side of the border with permission to fire.
to Israeli media, Israel’s army deployed more than 100 snipers on the other
side of the border with permission to fire.
The march
was called for by all political factions and several Palestinian civil society
organisations in the besieged enclave.
was called for by all political factions and several Palestinian civil society
organisations in the besieged enclave.
Protesters
said the main message of the march was to call for the right of return for
Palestinian refugees.
said the main message of the march was to call for the right of return for
Palestinian refugees.
Some 70 percent of Gaza’s two
million population are descendants of Palestinians who were driven from their
homes in the territories taken over by Israel during the 1948 war, known to
Arabs as the Nakba.
million population are descendants of Palestinians who were driven from their
homes in the territories taken over by Israel during the 1948 war, known to
Arabs as the Nakba.
Speaking
to the protesters, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said: “The Palestinian
people have proved time after time that they can take the initiative and do
great things. This march is the beginning of the return to all of
Palestine.”
to the protesters, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said: “The Palestinian
people have proved time after time that they can take the initiative and do
great things. This march is the beginning of the return to all of
Palestine.”
Friday’s
protest also kicked off a six-week sit-in demonstration along the border
leading up to the commemoration of the Nakba on May 15.
protest also kicked off a six-week sit-in demonstration along the border
leading up to the commemoration of the Nakba on May 15.
It is
expected that the United States will be transferring its embassy from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem around the same time, following President Donald Trump’s
declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017.
expected that the United States will be transferring its embassy from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem around the same time, following President Donald Trump’s
declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017.
