Palestinians are protesting and rioting in the tens of thousands today along the security fence at the Gaza Strip:
Update: 17,000 Palestinians are rioting in 5 locations along the Gaza Strip security fence. The rioters are rolling burning tires and hurling firebombs & rocks at the security fence & IDF troops, who are responding w riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 30, 2018
In response to violent riots along the security fence in the Gaza Strip, GOC of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir said: "We're identifying attempts to carry out terror attacks under the disguise of riots. We urge Gazans to stay away & warn the Hamas terror organization."
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 30, 2018
With a reinforcement of troops, the IDF is prepared to respond to the violent riots planned throughout the Gaza Strip, if necessary
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 30, 2018
According to the BBC, at least 5 have been killed and 350 injured:
The Palestinian health ministry says at least five people have been killed and 350 wounded, many of them by Israeli gunfire.
The AP reports slightly different numbers:
BREAKING: Gaza official says 3 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in clashes; 365 hurt by tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 30, 2018
Why are the Palestinians rioting?
BBC – Palestinians have pitched five camps near the border for the protest, dubbed the Great March of Return.
They are demanding that refugees be allowed to return to homes that are now in Israel.
The Great March of Return protests were starting on Friday, as 30 March marks Land Day, which commemorates the killing of six protesters by Israeli security forces during demonstrations over land confiscation in 1976.
The protest is scheduled to end on 15 May, which Palestinians call Nakba (catastrophe) and which marks the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the conflict surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948.
Hamas is claiming that the IDF killed a farmer trying to intimidate them or something:
They said that one of the five who died was killed before Friday’s protest started. Omar Samour, a 27-year-old farmer, was killed by Israeli tank fire near Khan Yunis.
But Israel says that is not what happened:
On the tank fire incident in Khan Yunis, an Israeli military spokesman said that “two suspects approached the security fence and began operating suspiciously and the tank fired towards them”.
Here’s more on the protests from EuroNews:
And here’s an update from EuroNews:
UPDATE: Seven Palestinians killed, about 500 wounded by Israeli forces confronting protesters at Gaza border (via Reuters)
Read more: https://t.co/JYpIZJXIKD pic.twitter.com/z0B4IvrxFE
— euronews (@euronews) March 30, 2018