Friday, September 27, 2013

Israel injures 5 Palestinians at Gaza demonstration

Published Friday 27/09/2013 (updated) 01/10/2013 13:32
 
Palestinian youths wave flags and light tyres during clashes with
Israeli soldiers at the border fence near Gaza City on
March 17, 2010 (Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images)
 
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Five Palestinians including a photographer were injured after a demonstration was fired upon by Israeli forces east of Gaza City on Friday.

Dozens of Palestinians had marched toward the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel east of Gaza City in solidarity with Jerusalem after Israel repeatedly limited Palestinian access to Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque over the past weeks. The call for the march was reportedly issued by a group called "The Intifada Youth Coalition."

The group's march led to clashes with Israeli forces near Nahal Oz military camp.

An Israeli military spokeswoman told Ma'an that "approximately 300 Palestinians" attended the demonstration but were "dispersed" by Israeli forces after they gathered close to the border fence.

The five Palestinians were injured due to high levels of tear-gas inhalation after Israeli forces launched tear-gas canisters at the march. The injured were taken to Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

The al-Aqsa Mosque sits atop a site considered holy for Muslims as well as Jews. It is in East Jerusalem, part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories, but has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.