For the second night in a row, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Sunday, burning tires and hurling explosive devices toward the fence.
The Israel Defense Forces, which deployed additional troops along the border ahead of the protests, responded with some live fire in addition to less-lethal riot dispersal weapons, like tear gas and stun grenades.
Eighteen Palestinians were said to be injured during the demonstration, including one moderately from live rounds. The rest were lightly hurt from tear gas inhalation, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip.
The “night confusion units” behind the border riots do not officially tie themselves to Hamas, though their activities could not take place without the approval of the terror group that rules the Strip.
The groups, which are affiliated with various terror factions, have said that the nightly riots on the border will continue until at least Thursday, starting at around 8 p.m. each evening.
In the past, Gazans involved in such activities have burned tires, hurled explosive devices, and played fake rocket alert noises in an attempt to confuse Israeli residents living near the border and harass soldiers guarding the border.
During Saturday’s protests, 11 Palestinians were hurt by live fire and other riot control measures used by the IDF during the clashes, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
In response to Saturday’s riots, as well as two fires sparked in southern Israel by balloons carrying incendiary devices launched from Gaza, the IDF overnight Saturday-Sunday struck a Hamas military compound used for training and weapon production, and the opening of a “terror tunnel.”
The clashes came despite Israel on Thursday easing some of its restrictions on trade and movement, allowing additional goods and materials to enter Gaza. It also allowed another 1,000 Gazan businessmen to leave through the Erez Crossing with Israel to travel to the West Bank.
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