7 Palestinians Killed, 500 Wounded by Israeli Forces during Gaza Fence Protests, Including 12-, 14-Year-Old

Seven Palestinians were killed Friday, September 28, by Israeli military gunfire along the border with the Gaza Strip during the weekly Great March of Return demonstrations near the fence, including two boys aged 12 and 14, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The child victims were Yousef Abu Zarifa, age 12, who was mortally wounded east of Khan Yunis, and 14-year-old Mohammed Na’if al-Houm, who was killed east of al-Bureij. Friday’s death toll also included Iyad Khalil Ahmed Asheer, 18, who was shot east of Gaza City; Mohammed ‘Ali Anshasi, 18, who was hit east of Khan Yunis; Mohammed Waleed Haniyeh, 23, who was fatally injured east of Gaza City; Mohammed Bassam Shasha, 24, also wounded East of Gaza; and Ashraf al-‘Awadah, 26, who died of his wounds after being wounded east of al-Bureij.

In addition to the seven dead, some 500 Palestinians were wounded one fatally and three critically. Those wounded or injured were either shot by live fire or suffered from tear gas inhalation.

A young Palestinian woman demonstrating near the fence in the Gaza Strip, Friday, September 28

A young Palestinian woman demonstrating near the fence in the Gaza Strip, Friday, September 28 (Photo: Activestills)

Regarding Friday’s violence Israel’s military spokesperson laconically announced: “The army attacked twice in the northern Gaza Strip in response to the burning of tires and the throwing of stones, grenades and explosive devices at Israeli soldiers and the fence.”

Since the beginning of the Great March of Return demonstrations along the border with Israel on March 30, 193 Palestinians have been killed and some 17,000 have been wounded or otherwise injured.

Related: Posts on the Great March of Return