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Gaza protests: Thousands mark 'Great Return' anniversary | Gaza protests: Thousands mark 'Great Return' anniversary |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have demonstrated in Gaza to mark the anniversary of the start of weekly protests on the boundary with Israel. | |
Demonstrators threw stones and burned tyres, with Israeli troops using tear-gas and live rounds in response. | Demonstrators threw stones and burned tyres, with Israeli troops using tear-gas and live rounds in response. |
Two protesters died in the clashes, Palestinian officials say, with a third killed overnight. | |
The protests back 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. |
At least 189 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed between March and December 2018, the UN says. | |
A UN inquiry says Israeli soldiers may have committed war crimes during the protest marches - a charge Israel rejects. | A UN inquiry says Israeli soldiers may have committed war crimes during the protest marches - a charge Israel rejects. |
This day of protests is 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. | This day of protests is 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. |
What has happened so far? | What has happened so far? |
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated the number of protesters at about 40,000 and several thousand Israeli troops were deployed along the border. | |
The IDF said explosive devices had been thrown over the border fence and Israeli forces had responded with "riot dispersal means" and live bullets. | The IDF said explosive devices had been thrown over the border fence and Israeli forces had responded with "riot dispersal means" and live bullets. |
At least two Palestinian protesters, both 17-year-old boys, have been killed and dozens more have been wounded, Palestinian health officials say. | At least two Palestinian protesters, both 17-year-old boys, have been killed and dozens more have been wounded, Palestinian health officials say. |
The health officials say another man was shot dead by Israeli troops close to the fence overnight. | The health officials say another man was shot dead by Israeli troops close to the fence overnight. |
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. | 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 clashes were limited in scope and fears of a large number of deaths have not materialised. The protests quietened in the evening. | |
They came after a tense week in which Palestinian militants fired rockets at Israel and Israel's air force struck dozens of sites in Gaza. | |
But Palestinian sources say Egyptian mediators have made some progress in reaching a new ceasefire agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. | But Palestinian sources say Egyptian mediators have made some progress in reaching a new ceasefire agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. |
What happened during earlier protests? | 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". | 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. | 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 was set up by the UN Human Rights Council. | A commission of inquiry was set up by the UN Human Rights Council. |
Thirty-five of the 189 Palestinian 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." |