Gaza border clashes resume between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces

GAZA CITY — At least two Palestinians were killed and dozens injured Friday as Israeli forces tried to disperse mass demonstrations along the border zone with the Gaza Strip for a fourth consecutive week, officials in Gaza said.

Israeli troops fired tear gas and live bullets at crowds gathered near the barriers between Israel and Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for more than a decade. Some Palestinians protesters threw stones and attached homemade firebombs to flying kites, which they steered across the border.

By late afternoon, crowds had swelled, and black smoke from burning tires billowed over the demonstrations.

The protests Friday marked the fourth week of mass rallies for what organizers have called the “Great March of Return.” It was initially conceived as an effort to highlight the right of Palestinian refugees to return to land they left behind when Israel was created in 1948.

The demonstrations also underscore the plight of Palestinians living in Gaza, where a blockade has stunted the economy and jobs and basic services are scarce.

[Israel: No inquiry into Gaza border deaths]

On Friday, at least two Palestinians were killed after being shot by Israeli forces, health officials in Gaza City said. At least 40 others were injured from tear gas and live bullets at protests across Gaza. The figures could not be independently verified, and Israel did not immediately provide its own casualty count.

Since the border protests began last month, 34 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,000 injured, according to Palestinians. The United Nations has called it an “excessive use of lethal force” by Israeli forces patrolling the border.

Israel, in turn, said the protests are violent and provide cover for militant attacks. Israeli aircraft dropped fliers on the border areas Friday, urging protesters to stay away from the border fence.

“You are participating in violent riots,” the leaflets said. “Stay away from the terror instigators and violent riot orchestrators.”

Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, and other factions have supported the protests. Israel and Egypt have imposed travel and trade restrictions on the territory since Hamas took power in 2007.

At a protest near Gaza City on Friday, the atmosphere was almost festive, even as protesters clashed with troops near the fence. Vendors with carts and megaphones sold everything from nuts to ice cream and grilled liver. And Palestinians took selfies with posters of prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Elsewhere, masked youths rolled tires that they would eventually set on fire near the border. Volleys of tear gas sent crowds of Palestinians running, while others observed the chaos.

“To Jerusalem we go, with a million martyrs!” a group of demonstrators chanted.

“Watch out for the [tear] gas!” another protester yelled.

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