Hundreds Of Palestinians In Gaza Have Resumed Protests Near Israel’s Border

Gaza Strip, GAZA CITY — Hundreds of Palestinians gathered along the Israeli border in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, calling on Israel to lift a severe embargo imposed by the Israeli army only days after a similar gathering resulted in fatal violence.

After Hamas stopped the protesters from reaching the separation wall, the demonstration ended without a repetition of Saturday’s violent confrontations. Egypt has urged the Islamic terrorist group to cool things down as it attempted to arrange a long-term cease-fire between the two sides.

The Israeli military, which had bolstered up its soldiers ahead of the protest, said it dispersed the throng with tear gas and minimal live fire. At least 14 individuals were injured, according to Palestinian doctors, including five persons who were shot. There was no indication that any of the injuries were life-threatening.

Hamas official Soheil al-Hendi claimed the group has made a “significant effort” to prevent bloodshed.

“The adversary must realize that we do not want to repeat what occurred last Saturday,” he added.

Crowds of people approached the barrier, then fled as an Israeli military vehicle came, according to Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV. Tear gas was observed wafting in the breeze. The military claimed to have utilized 22 caliber gunshot is a sort of weapon designed to be less dangerous than more powerful firearms, although it may still be deadly.

Hundreds of demonstrators assaulted the barrier on Saturday, some of them tossing explosives, culminating in violent confrontations.

A Palestinian terrorist shot an Israeli soldier in the head through a breach in the wall at point-blank range, gravely wounding him, while Israeli fire injured around 40 Palestinians. Osama Dueji, one of the injured, died of his wounds on Wednesday. He was recognized as a member of Hamas’ armed wing Hamas.

An Israeli military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, said protestors fired firearms and threw bombs at soldiers on Saturday, attempting to break down the fence.

He stated, “They are portraying riots as calm.” “These riots are really violent in reality.” He wouldn’t specify how many troops were deployed on Wednesday but claimed it was a lot more than on Saturday and included riot-control units.

The demonstrations were planned by Hamas in an effort to put pressure on Israel to lift its siege of Gaza.

Since Hamas, a terrorist group that opposes Israel’s existence, gained control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning a Palestinian election, Israel and Egypt have maintained the embargo. The embargo has wreaked havoc on Gaza’s economy, fueling a 50 percent unemployment rate. The embargo, which severely limits the flow of goods and people into and out of Gaza, is justified by Israel as necessary to prevent Hamas from bolstering its military capabilities.

Since 2007, Israel and Hamas have fought four wars and several skirmishes, the most recent of which was an 11-day conflict in May that claimed the lives of 260 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

By tightening the siege, Hamas claims Israel has violated the cease-fire that halted the conflict. It has, in particular, limited the admission of rebuilding materials. Israel has requested the return of the bodies of two soldiers killed in a 2014 conflict, as well as the release of two Israeli citizens held captive by Hamas.

Israel and Qatar reached a deal last week that would allow Qatar to restart humanitarian payments to thousands of poor Gaza households.

The funds will be provided directly by the UN to families who have been verified by Israel under the new method. In the past, Hamas received help in the form of cash.

Payments are scheduled to start in the coming weeks, bringing some respite to Gaza.

However, tensions are still high. In addition to the protests, Hamas has enabled its followers to cross the border with incendiary balloons, causing a number of wildfires in southern Israel. Israel has retaliated with a series of airstrikes in Gaza on Hamas objectives.

Egypt, which acts as a go-between for Israel and Hamas, has been attempting to arrange a longer-term peace between the old adversaries.

In a display of frustration with Hamas, Egypt blocked its border crossing with Gaza, the major exit point for Gazans seeking to travel abroad.

An Egyptian official said his administration had conducted extensive talks with all factions, commenting on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media.

Egypt has requested Hamas to calm tensions and Israel to start lifting the embargo and speeding up Qatari payments, he added.