Over 1,100 Palestinians injured in Israeli firing, tear gas attack

The ongoing Palestinian protest at the Gaza-Israel frontier turned worse on Friday, May 4, when Israeli forces fired at the demonstrators who targeted a border terminal, leaving 1,100 people injured.

Among the wounded, around 82 people were injured in live fires while 800 fell ill by gas inhalation after the Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters, Reuters cited doctors as saying.

The Palestinians have been conducting protest march at the Gaza border since March 30 which is historically known as 'Land Day' and it was set to culminate with the Nakba (Catastrophe) Day on May 15, which is observed a day after Israel's independence that came in 1948. Palestinians mourn the day since they were uprooted in masses to make way for the Israeli state in 1948.

Israel has been retaliating with full force against this protest, killing several, including a Palestinian journalist. According to the Reuters, at least 43 Palestinians have been killed in the army shooting over the past one month.

The protesters, however, remained defiant and used their limited resources like slingshots to target Israeli devices like drones, Reuters reported, adding that several Palestinians also entered Kerem Shalom, an industrial crossing point located on the border, and claimed to have burned rooms used by Israel. Israel countered by saying the damage was limited to the Palestinian side.

The Israeli Army said the protesters were damaging pipes that carried fuel and gas from Israel into Gaza Strip, the Reuters reported cited its statement as saying.

The Israeli Army has faced criticism over using live fire against the protesters and in its defence, it said the action was being taken only when the protesters reached the limits.