Palestinian Killed in Raging Land Day Protests
The IDF spokesperson confirmed that one Palestinian was killed during clashes at the Erez crossing on the Israel-Gaza border during protests to commemorate Land Day on Friday, while dozens more were reportedly injured and arrested in other sites in the West Bank and Israel.
Some 15 Palestinians were detained in Issawiya on suspicion of throwing stones, while the remainder were detained in Jerusalem.
One protester was moderately injured at the border crossing near Rachel’s Tomb, and was taken to hospital in Hebron. He was apparently wounded after being hit in the head by tear gas.
At the Erez crossing, eight people were wounded after demonstrators approached the entrance to the crossing and did not answer the IDF’s requests to stop approaching, and the IDF opened fire. Sniper teams stationed at the crossing reported eight wounded, mostly moderatley, one severely. The Palestinian media reported nine Palestinians were injured.
Some 250 Palestinians protested at the Qalandiyah checkpoint. Demonstrators burned tires and hurled rocks at soldiers, who responded with stun grenades and tear gas, and protests continued on Friday evening. The IDF used two crowd dispersal methods and tear gas at the checkpoint.
Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti was said to have been hit on the head by a tear gas canister, but Israeli officials later said he had been punched by another Palestinian.
An additional demonstration took place at the Gaza Strip near Khan Yunis, where four people were reportedly wounded by sniper fire when they approached the fence.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
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