AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Thirty-nine Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and a woman, were shot and injured by Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) fire against peaceful protestors at the 86th Great March of Return (GMR) in eastern Gaza Strip, this Friday, 27 December 2019.
Despite of general calmness of protests in most of the areas and the decrease in numbers of participants due to the cold and rainy weather, IOF continued the use of excessive force against peaceful protestors, as 5 civilians, from eastern Rafah, were shot with live bullets; one of them was deemed in serious condition.
Moreover, IOF targeted protests with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters, mainly targeting their upper bodies and heads. As a result, many civilians were injured, including a young man who was shot with a rubber bullet in his right eye.
The Supreme National Authority of GMR called for today’s protests under the slogan “Martyrs’ Blood Draws the Freedom Path” on the anniversary of the 2018 Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, which continued for 23 days, and resulted in hundreds of killings and injuries.
At approximately 14:00, Palestinian civilians head towards the five GMR encampments in the eastern Gaza Strip to join today’s protest which lasted to 17:00, in the last Friday of this year.
The National Authority announced the suspension of the demonstrations until the next Earth Day, which is celebrated on 30 March of each year, which would mark the second anniversary of the GMR. The National Authority also declared that protests would thereafter take place on a monthly basis and on national events.
Since GMR started on 30 March 2018, PCHR documented that 215 civilians were killed by IOF, including 47 children, 2 women, 9 persons with disabilities, 4 paramedics and 2 journalists.
Additionally, IOF shot and injured 14,854 civilians, including 3,746 children, 392 women, 255 paramedics and 219 journalists, noting that many sustained multiple injuries on separate occasions.
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28 December 2019 - 11:06
News ID: 996957
Thirty-nine Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and a woman, were shot and injured by Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) fire against peaceful protestors at the 86th Great March of Return (GMR) in eastern Gaza Strip, this Friday, 27 December 2019.
