Three Arabs were killed and at least 100 others were injured as Israeli forces opened fire at rioters attempting to breach the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Friday. At least 11 Arabs were shot and dozens sustained tear gas inhalation and were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets during the rioting, Palestinian media sources reported.
On Shabbat morning, attempts were resumed by Gazan Arabs to break through the border with Israel, and were blocked by IDF forces.
The day before was marked by many clashes which broke out, among other places, east of the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, where IDF soldiers were forced to fire tear gas at rioters who had set tires on fire.
Arab rioters were also reported near the Erez and Nahal Oz crossings in the northern Gaza Strip, as thousands of Arabs marched in response to a call by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad to break through the border fence.
The rioters arrived from different mosques following Friday’s prayers, where the worshippers had been urged to escalate the attacks against Israel.
Hamas official Mushir al-Masri called on all the factions to take part in the “Intifada against Israel.”
The leader of Islamic Jihad, Khalid al-Batsh, said the movement would remain “ready to strike the enemy.”
An IDF spokesperson reported that hundreds of Gaza Arabs had gathered near the border fence and breached the buffer zone, throwing rocks and burning tires.
“The threat of infiltration was posing a direct threat to communities nearby,” she added, saying Israeli forces used riot dispersal means and fired at the “main instigators.”
Last weekend, 12 Arabs who tried the breach the border fence were killed in Gaza by IDF soldiers.
Unknown assailants opened fire at Israeli military vehicles stationed near the border with Gaza on Friday, an IDF spokesperson announced. “Shots were fired at military vehicle adjacent to security fence in Gaza. Gunfire hit vehicle, causing damage,” went the report. No injuries were reported.
On Thursday, the IDF added two infantry battalions along the Gaza border, adding to the two battalions already stationed there, in response to a Hamas call for yet another “day of rage” on Friday.
