Israeli troops again target peaceful protests with live ammunition and tear gas
By
Jean Shaoul
14 April 2018
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired live ammunition and tear gas on unarmed Palestinians protesting for the third Friday in a row near Gaza’s border with Israel.
At least 528 protesters were injured, 59 by gunshots and many others by tear gas, 107 of whom were hospitalized. At least one is in a critical condition. Ten of the wounded are nurses and paramedics in Khan Younis, while two are journalists.
This week’s unarmed protest, called “Flag Day,” has seen demonstrators burn Israeli flags and wave Palestinian ones.
Without providing a shred of evidence, Israel has accused Hamas, which governs Gaza, of using the protests as a cover for carrying out attacks on the border.
Sections of the Israeli media called yesterday’s protest “Molotov Day”—and claimed that the Palestinians were planning to throw improvised incendiary devices (IEDs) towards Israeli forces—in an attempt brand the demonstrations as violent and justify Israel’s criminal response.
The IDF has killed 34 Palestinians, including 26 demonstrators, since the start of the March of Return just over two weeks ago. Yet not a single Israeli has been killed or even injured, and no Israeli property has been damaged or put at risk. Furthermore, the shooting of unarmed civilians constitutes a violation not only of Israel’s own standing orders, but of international humanitarian law.
The six-week peaceful protest is demanding the Palestinians’ right to return to their ancestors’ villages and towns in what is now Israel—a demand that Israeli officials reject because it would reduce Jewish citizens to a minority.
The March is also calling for the full implementation of the United…