Move FM Global News

GAZA, Palestinian territories – Two teenage boys were killed, while another 46 people were shot by Israeli armed forces on the Gaza border on Friday.

The Jerusalem Post named the teenagers as 17-year-old Ali Sami Al-Ashqar and 14-year old Khalid Al-Raba’i.

More than six thousand protesters are said to have lined the border on Friday. “Sixty six people were injured in the ensuing clash with IDF forces, forty six from live ammunition, according to Palestinian Health Services,” the Jerusalem Post report said.

Another two Palestinians, alleged to have breached the northern Gazan border were captured and detained by the Israeli army.

There were conflicting reports as to the demeanour of the 6,200 people protesting.

The Israeli army said it was violent and claimed improvised explosive devices, grenades and Molotov cocktails were thrown at Israeli soldiers, while the Palestinian narrative is that the marchers were peaceful, with the Jerusalem Post report quoting sources in the Gaza Strip as saying ‘the protest organizers, along with Hamas, have been urging restraint over the past few weeks ahead of the protest, telling Palestinians to not go near the fence or blow incendiary balloons in an attempt to lessen casualties.’

The IDF spokesperson however saw it differently:

“Violent demonstrations during which around 6,200 protesters assembled in several locations along the Gaza border fence. The Demonstrations were of an especially violent nature which included a large amount of IEDs, grenades and Molotov cocktails being thrown towards IDF forces along the fence,” he said.

“There is noticeable damage to the border fence in several locations, and there has been a rising number of attempts to approach the border fence. IDF forces recognized suspects crossing the border all through the strip, each quickly returning to Gazan territory. Two suspects that crossed the border fence in the north of the strip were arrested by IDF forces and brought to interrogation,” the Israeli army (IDF) spokesperson said.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem responded with a tweet: “Violating the blood of peaceful demonstrators in the marches of return and deliberately targeting them is a crime that the occupation bears all its repercussions.”

Friday marked the 73rd week of protests which the Palestinians describe as “The Great right of Return.’

(File photo).