Unrelenting struggle

Gaza City : Israeli troops fired live bullets and tear gas yesterday across a border fence into Gaza where Palestinians were holding protests. One protester was killed and 50 were wounded by Israeli fire, Gaza health officials said. It was the seventh weekly protest aimed at shaking off a decade-old border blockade of Gaza, and a preview of what is expected to be a much larger border rally on Monday. On that day, protests are timed to coincide with the planned move of the US Embassy in Israel to contested Jerusalem, where Palestinians hope to establish a future capital.

Protester Ahmed Deifallah, 25, said that President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the embassy there “is causing the volcano to spew.”

Deifallah, who is unemployed, said he is not afraid to die. “We are used to confronting the (Israeli) occupation with our bare chests,” he said, a Palestinian flag draped around his head. “We are used to wars and no one with us but Allah.”

Gaza’s Hamas leader, Yehiyeh Sinwawr, has said he expects tens of thousands to participate on Monday. He has raised the possibility of a mass border breach, comparing protesters to a “starving tiger,” unpredictable and full of pent-up anger.

Israel has said it will prevent any border breach and has stuck to its open-fire policies, such as targeting “main instigators” and those approaching the fence, despite growing international criticism.

There are growing concerns that if Israel and Hamas dig in, a widespread border breach in coming days could lead to large numbers of casualties.

Since the Hamas-led marches began in late March, 41 Palestinian protesters have been killed by Israeli fire, including a 40-year-old man shot dead Friday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 1,700 Palestinians have been shot and wounded, including 49 on Friday. Seven of the injured on Friday were in serious condition, among them a 16-year-old with a shot to the head.

(Agencies)