Israeli Military Kills at Least 8 in Confrontations on Gaza Border

Source: The New York Times



By ISABEL KERSHNER and IYAD ABUHEWEILA MARCH 30, 2018

JERUSALEM — What was billed as a six-week campaign of peaceful protests in Gaza, culminating in a mass march toward Israel, descended almost immediately into chaos and bloodshed on Friday, with at least eight Palestinians reported killed by Israeli soldiers in confrontations along the border fence.

Soon after the campaign began Friday morning, the Israeli military reported that Palestinian protesters were rioting in six locations along the border, rolling burning tires and hurling stones at the fence and at Israelis soldiers beyond it. Later, it reported Molotov cocktails being thrown at soldiers, as well.

By late afternoon, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that eight Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire, and more than 1,000 injured.

Declaring the area surrounding the Gaza Strip a closed military zone, the Israeli military said it was “responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators.” Israeli forces fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/world/middleeast/gaza-israel-protest-clashes.html