Forty-one Palestinians were injured on Saturday, August 21, including a child seriously injured, by Israeli gunfire during clashes at the border separating Israel from the Gaza Strip, according to the authorities in the enclave. The Israeli army announces for its part a seriously wounded in its ranks.
According to the IDF and witnesses, Israeli soldiers opened fire on young demonstrators, who threw incendiary devices and tried to climb the barrier separating the two regions. They were responding to a call by the Islamist movement Hamas, in power in the Gaza Strip, to mark the 52e anniversary of the fire in Jerusalem of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site. According to Hamas, this demonstration brought together ” several thousands ” of people.
Explosive projectiles, live ammunition then air raid
“Forty-one civilians were injured”, including a 13-year-old child who was shot in the head and is in critical condition, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement. According to Hamas, ” thousands “ people participated in the protests. For its part, the IDF reported that a policeman had “Been seriously injured” by fire from the blockaded enclave, and that it was in critical condition.
The Israeli army told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that “Several hundred rioters” had tried to cross the barrier by throwing “Explosive projectiles”. The military used tear gas as protesters burned tires, then “Responded by means of riot dispersal, including, if necessary, by live ammunition”, still according to the army.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on television that they were“Extremely serious events that give[aie]does not result in a response “. Soon after, the IDF announced that its fighter jets had targeted “Four weapons manufacturing and storage sites” of Hamas, and that it had increased the number of men in its contingent from Gaza. No casualties from the air raid were immediately reported.
Gaza awaits reconstruction funds
In May, Israel and Hamas fought an eleven-day blitz. The two million Palestinians who have lived in the enclave, impoverished and under Israeli blockade for nearly fifteen years, are still awaiting the reconstruction of Gaza after the bombings suffered in the context of this conflict. While tens of millions of euros in Qatari aid destined for Gaza have since been blocked by Israel, the Jewish state announced on Thursday a new system for distributing this money, which will now be done through the UN. .
For more than a year from March 2018, weekly rallies had been held in Gaza to demand an end to the blockade and “The right of return” Palestinians forced into exile when Israel was created in 1948. 350 Palestinians were killed by gunfire from Israeli soldiers.