This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-47758369

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gaza rallies to mark 'Great Return' protest anniversary Gaza protests: Thousands mark 'Great Return' anniversary
(about 4 hours later)
Thousands of Palestinians are gathering in the Gaza Strip to mark the anniversary of the start of protests along the boundary fence with Israel. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are demonstrating in Gaza to mark the anniversary of the start of weekly protests on the boundary with Israel.
At least 189 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed between March and December 2018, the UN says. Demonstrators threw stones and burned tyres, with Israelis returning tear gas and live fire. At least one protester has died, Palestinian officials say.
The rallies backed the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to ancestral homes in what is now Israel. The protests back the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to ancestral homes in what is now Israel.
A UN inquiry says Israeli soldiers may have committed war crimes during the marches - a charge Israel rejects. Some 189 Palestinians and one Israeli died up to December 2018, the UN says.
This day of protests will be a serious test of the fragile calm between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza, says the BBC's Yolande Knell in Jerusalem. A UN inquiry says Israeli soldiers may have committed war crimes during the protest marches - a charge Israel rejects.
Egypt and the UN have been negotiating to try to prevent a further escalation after a tense week in which Palestinian militants fired rockets at Israel and Israel's air force struck dozens of sites in Gaza. This day of protests will be a serious test of the fragile calm between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, says the BBC's Yolande Knell in Jerusalem.
With large crowds expected near the fence, Israel has deployed extra soldiers, including snipers. What has happened so far?
Previous demonstrations have turned violent with Gazans throwing stones and petrol bombs at Israeli troops. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated the number of protesters at about 40,000.
Israel's military says it only opens fire to stop Palestinians crossing into Israeli territory and protect Israeli civilians. The IDF said explosive devices had been thrown over the border fence and Israeli forces had responded with "riot dispersal means" and live bullets.
Palestinian health officials say one man was shot dead by Israeli troops close to the fence overnight. At least one Palestinian protester, a 17-year-old boy, has been killed and dozens more have been wounded, Palestinian health officials say.
What happened during the protests? The health officials say another man was shot dead by Israeli troops close to the fence overnight.
Palestinians have been taking part in protests along the border since 30 March 2018 as part of a campaign, dubbed "the Great March of Return". Hamas had said it would try to keep the crowds a safe distance from the fence, with Egyptian and UN mediators trying to prevent further escalation.
The campaign has been organised by the militant Hamas movement - which dominates Gaza and is designated a terrorist group by Israel - and other groups. The clashes appear at present to be limited in scope.
The Israeli government has said terrorists have been seeking to use the protests as cover to cross into its territory and carry out attacks. The protests come after a tense week in which Palestinian militants fired rockets at Israel and Israel's air force struck dozens of sites in Gaza.
What happened during earlier protests?
Palestinians have been taking part in protests along the border since 30 March 2018 as part of a campaign dubbed "the Great March of Return".
The Israeli government designates Hamas a terrorist group which it says has been seeking to use the protests as a cover to cross into its territory and carry out attacks.
It deployed soldiers along the border fence, who it said were ordered to resort to live fire only when absolutely necessary and when there was an imminent threat.It deployed soldiers along the border fence, who it said were ordered to resort to live fire only when absolutely necessary and when there was an imminent threat.
A commission of inquiry, which was set up by the UN Human Rights Council in May, investigated the killing of 189 Palestinians between 30 March and 31 December 2018. A commission of inquiry was set up by the UN Human Rights Council.
Thirty-five of the fatalities were children, three were clearly marked paramedics, and two were clearly marked journalists, the commission found. Thirty-five of the 189 Palestinian fatalities were children, three were clearly marked paramedics and two were clearly marked journalists, the commission found.
The inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli snipers had shot at children, medics and journalists, even though they were clearly recognisable as such.The inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli snipers had shot at children, medics and journalists, even though they were clearly recognisable as such.
Four Israeli soldiers were injured at the demonstrations. One Israeli soldier was killed on a protest day but outside the protest sites, the commission said.Four Israeli soldiers were injured at the demonstrations. One Israeli soldier was killed on a protest day but outside the protest sites, the commission said.
Unless undertaken lawfully in self-defence, intentionally shooting a civilian not directly participating in hostilities is a war crime.Unless undertaken lawfully in self-defence, intentionally shooting a civilian not directly participating in hostilities is a war crime.
Israel's acting foreign minister said it rejected the findings outright.Israel's acting foreign minister said it rejected the findings outright.
"The Human Rights Council's Theatre of the Absurd has once again produced a report that is hostile, mendacious and biased against Israel," Israel Katz said."The Human Rights Council's Theatre of the Absurd has once again produced a report that is hostile, mendacious and biased against Israel," Israel Katz said.
"No-one can deny Israel the right to self-defence and the obligation to protect its citizens and its borders against violent attacks.""No-one can deny Israel the right to self-defence and the obligation to protect its citizens and its borders against violent attacks."