Israel opens fire, tear gas at Palestinian protesters
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Gaza: Israel military opened fire and released tear gas at a large group of Palestinians who had crowded for a protest at the Israeli fence in southern Gaza on Wednesday, days after a similar gathering turned deadly, reported Al Jazeera.
The Palestinians were protesting against the blockade imposed by Israel, which stopped the movement of goods and services in and out of Gaza, weakening its economy.
The Israeli military's use of tear gas and live fire was aimed at dispersing the crowd and wounded at least nine. A television network owned by Hamas showed footage of people running away from the fence after the Israeli military opened fire. The military used .22 calibre gunfire which is not as lethal as powerful firearms but still deadly.
On Saturday, a demonstration was held, and 40 people were wounded, including a 13-year-old boy shot in the head. A man who was shot in his leg succumbed to his wound, and Hamas identified him as their member and mourned him as a martyr.
Israel and Egypt had placed the blockade after Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after it won the Palestinian election. The blockade had ruined Gaza's economy and increased the unemployment rate to 50%. But Israel reasoned that this blockade of stopping goods in and out of Gaza was to check Hamas from building their military capabilities.
