Two Palestinians were killed, Thursday, while dozens others were injured by the Israeli fire, in a time when the Palestinian factions and people are getting ready for mass protest marches on Friday.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said that Mujahid Nabil al-Khudari, 23, was killed east Gaza, in the early morning by the Israeli occupation. Sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the targeted man is from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Later, a second Palestinian, Shadi Hamdan al-Kashif, 34, succumbed to injuries sustained earlier.
This raises the toll to 21 martyrs since last February and more than 1,492 injuries, including 202 children and 40 women.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said earlier that “these are not innocent civilians who came to peacefully protest” and that the Israeli Army is ready to any possible scenario.
Liberman continued that if Palestinians attempted to provoke the sovereignty or security of Israel then there will be strong and decisive response from the forces.
“Israeli forces should exercise maximum restraint and Palestinians should avoid friction at the Gaza fence,” UN Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov said in a statement.
“Civilians must be able to exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully,” he stressed.
Hamas announced providing $3,000 to the relatives of those killed by Israeli fire.
Palestinians injured by Israeli troops in the clashes would receive $200-$500 in compensation, depending on the level of injury, Hamas said. Israeli army to investigate Gazan protesters' deaths, revealed Haaretz newspaper.
According to the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), Israeli occupying forces used drones to drop tear gas on Palestinians in Gaza for the first time.
The purpose of the occupation is to kill the greatest number of peaceful protesters through opening fire and dropping toxic gases, added ICHR. The repressive procedures taken by the occupation authorities are a violation of the international humanitarian law and the international documents along with human rights agreements, continued ICHR.
