Thousands of Palestinians gathered along the Gaza border on Friday, burning tires and throwing rocks at soldiers who responded with tear gas and live fire, the army and witnesses said as Palestinians launched their second “March of Return” protest.
Israel and Hamas geared up for another showdown on the Gaza-Israel border with the IDF deploying snipers and tanks ahead of an expected mass protest, and Palestinians stockpiling thousands of tires to burn.
The IDF said that since morning “there were violent protests at five sites along the Gaza border in which hundreds of Palestinians were taking part."
“Our forces will not allow any harm to the security infrastructure and the fence that protects Israeli citizens,” it said, noting that it had declared the area a closed military zone.
Palestinians were burning tires, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air, and others threw stones at Israeli soldiers over the border fence, who responded with tear gas and live fire, witnesses said.
One person appeared to have been shot east of Gaza City, an AFP photographer on the scene said, but his condition was not immediately clear. Other media reports said at least three Palestinians had been hit by live fire.
Israel radio quoted an IDF spokesperson as saying that forces were using live fire under specific orders in situations where soldiers lives were endangered.
Palestinian activists hope that the smoke will block the view of snipers; Israel fears terrorists will use the smoke as cover to fire on Israeli troops and try to breach the border fence.
The fresh protests come amid concerns about renewed bloodshed after more than a dozen Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli fire in a mass protest last week.
Thousands of Palestinians were streaming to tent camps along the border. Hundreds arrived before Muslim noon prayers on Friday at one of the tent camps near the border community of Khuzaa.
Israeli forces fired tear gas that landed inside the encampment, causing people to run and push each other to the other side of the camp. The canisters landed where TV live vans were positioned.
A sand berm has been erected in recent days between the fence and the camp for extra protection. A dozen ambulances are parked nearby.
Ahead of Friday’s march, Hamas announced it would pay compensation to families of those killed or injured, ranging from $200 to $500 per injury and $3,000 per death.
Late Thursday, activists urged residents over loudspeakers mounted on vans trawling the streets to show up for what they called the “Friday of Tires.”
The idea of mass protests was initially floated by social media activists, but was later co-opted by Hamas, which avowedly seeks Israel’s destruction, with the backing of smaller terror groups.
The White House on Thursday called on Palestinians to engage in solely peaceful protests and stay at least 500 meters from Gaza’s border with Israel, on the eve of fresh demonstrations supported by Gaza’s Hamas terrorist rulers along the border.
Greenblatt said protesters “should remain outside the 500-meter buffer zone; and should not approach the border fence in any way or any location.”
He added, in a statement: “We condemn leaders and protestors who call for violence or who send protestors — including children — to the fence, knowing that they may be injured or killed. Instead, we call for a renewed focus by all parties on finding solutions to the dire humanitarian challenges facing Gazans.”
Hamas leaders have declared in recent days that they plan “surprises” and that the ultimate goal of the marches is to remove the border and liberate Palestine.
Gaza leaders have planned a series of so-called Marches of Return culminating in a planned million-strong march in mid-May, to coincide with Israel’s 70th Independence Day, the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and Nakba Day — when the Palestinians mark what they call the “catastrophe” that befell them with Israel’s creation.
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