Sixteen Palestinian protesters have been killed by Israeli fire during demonstrations ahead of the US embassy inauguration in Jerusalem, the Palestinian health ministry said Monday.
Two children, aged 12 and 14, are among the fatalities. More than 900 protesters have been injured in Gaza so far on Monday, according to the ministry.
https://twitter.com/press221/status/995983816580849664
There are around 10,000 protesters gathered at the border fence and thousands more within half a mile of the vicinity, according to Israeli Defence Forces. Live footage from Ramallah and Khan Younis show crowds gathering to demonstrate over the embassy relocation.
Clashes have also reportedly broken out between protesters and the Israeli Defense Forces in Bethlehem.
The first of Monday’s deaths was a 21-year-old man, killed east of Khan Yunis, a spokesperson for the ministry said. A 29-year-old man was later killed east of Jabalya. The latest deaths bring the number of fatalities since the Great March of Return protests began six weeks ago to 61.
Tuesday marks the commemoration of Nakba Day, a term which Palestinians use to describe their forced mass exodus from their homes during the establishment of the State of Israel. It is celebrated among Israelis as Independence Day. Thousands of people have gathered near the border to take part in Monday’s protests.
Huge demonstrations are expected to mark the May 15 event, which brings to a close the six-week Great March of Returndemonstrations.
A journalist is reportedly among those wounded in Monday morning’s clashes.
https://twitter.com/GreatReturnMa/status/995945470030766080
The IDF dropped leaflets warning people in Gaza to stay away from the security fence ahead of Monday’s protests. Demonstrators in North Gaza brought down an IDF drone that was allegedly dropping fire bombs on tents, according to the Great Return March movement.
This is what is written on the leaflets pic.twitter.com/s88z1P83QM
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 14, 2018
