#GreatReturnMarch: 4 Palestinian deaths reported as protests enter 4th week
Four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire near Gaza’s border, according to local medics and the Gaza Health Ministry. The reports come as protesters gather for a fourth week of ‘Great March of Return’ demonstrations
The latest fatalities are a 15-year-old boy from Jabalya and a 29-year-old, who was reportedly shot in an area east of Khan Younis. Earlier a 25-year-old man died after being shot east of Jabalya while a 24-year-old man was reportedly shot dead by Israeli fire in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health as cited by local media.
According to the IDF, some 3,000 Palestinian protesters are taking part in Friday’s demonstrations, the Times of Israel reports.
The six-week protest began on March 30 and is due to continue until May 15, the anniversary of Nakba, which Palestinians refer to as the mass exodus from their land during the establishment of the state of Israel. Israelis celebrate this as Independence Day.
To date, at least 35 Palestinians have been killed and thousands wounded by Israeli gunfire.
READ MORE: 1 dead, more than 150 injured as IDF fires on Palestinians at #GreatReturnMarch (VIDEOS)
Last Friday’s protests left one person dead and more than 150 injured – 63 of those hit by live ammunition, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said in a statement Thursday that it had treated more wounded people in Gaza in the past three weeks than it had throughout all of 2014 – the year of the last war in Gaza. It confirmed it had provided post-operative care to more than 500 people injured by gunshots.
The medical organization added it was prepared to face a possible new influx of wounded this Friday. No Israeli casualties have been reported in the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces have reportedly scattered leaflets in Gaza ahead of Friday’s protests, warning residents to stay away from the fence and threatening action against those who cause damage or carry out violence.
“You are participating in violent disturbances. Hamas is taking advantage of you to carry out terrorist attacks. The IDF is prepared for any scenario. Stay away from the fence and do not attempt to damage it,” the leaflets read, according to Haaretz.
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