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Israeli troops kill four more Palestinians in border protest


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Israeli troops kill four more Palestinians in border protest

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

 

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A Palestinian protester rolls a burning tire during clashes with Israeli troops in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank April 20, 2018. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

 

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead four Palestinians on the Gaza-Israel border on Friday, bringing to 35 the death toll in recent weeks among Palestinian protesters demanding the right to return to their former homeland.

 

Gazans used catapults and sling-shots to launch stones at Israeli forces, and some Palestinians brought wire-cutters to cut through the border fence, ignoring leaflets dropped by the Israeli military warning residents not to approach the frontier.

 

The deaths included a 15-year-old boy shot dead in northern Gaza, Palestinian health officials said, adding that 156 people were wounded by Israeli gunfire.

 

U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov wrote on Twitter: "It is outrageous to shoot at children! How does the killing of a child in Gaza today help peace? It doesn’t! It fuels anger and breeds more killing. Children must be protected from violence, not exposed to it."

 

In response, a retired former Israeli army spokesman, Peter Lerner, tweeted suggestions to Mladenov, including: "Please go to Gaza, engage Hamas and get them to stop sending people to the fence."

 

The planned six-week protest campaign reached its half-way point on Friday, which saw smaller crowds than in recent weeks. As the numbers peaked during the afternoon Israeli soldiers called out warnings in Arabic over loudspeakers to anyone who approached the border fence.

 

Black plumes of smoke from piles of burning tyres billowed over the area, and stretcher-bearers rushed to carry the wounded to first aid posts.

 

The protest began on March 30, and has seen tent encampments spring up near the Israeli-imposed restricted zone along the 40km (25-mile) border fence. The protesters have revived demands for Palestinian refugees to regain their ancestral homes in what is now Israel.

 

The protests are scheduled to culminate on May 15, when, according to Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, the Gaza scenes would be replicated elsewhere on Israel's frontiers.

 

"I say to our people everywhere, be prepared for a human deluge on all of the borders of Palestine, inside the occupied land and outside the occupied land," he said on a visit to one of the border camps. "I say to the (Israeli occupiers) your time is gone."

 

Israel's use of live fire has drawn international criticism but the Israeli government says it is protecting its borders and takes such action when protesters come too close to the border fence.

 

The Israeli military said that around 3,000 Palestinians were involved in the latest protest, and that its troops responded "with riot dispersal means and are firing in accordance with the rules of engagement."

 

Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist militant group which rules Gaza, of staging riots and trying to carry out attacks. Hamas denies this. Although organisers say the main protest is intended to be peaceful, some protesters have advanced toward the border from the encampments to hurl stones and burning tyres near the fence.

 

On Friday they fitted kites with cans of flammable liquid, which they flew across the border to start fires in Israel.

 

"We aim to distract the soldiers from shooting and wounding or killing our people," said Mohammad Abu Mustafa, 17, who lost his right leg a few months ago after being shot by an Israeli soldier.

 

Israel's Foreign Ministry tweeted a photograph of one kite daubed with a swastika flying through the sky trailing flames.

 

PACKED IN

 

More than 2 million Palestinians are packed into the narrow coastal enclave. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Egypt also restricts movement in and out of Gaza on its border.

 

The protest campaign, dubbed The Great March of Return, is leading up to May 15, when Palestinians mark Nakba Day, or the Day of Catastrophe, commemorating their displacement around the time of Israel's founding in 1948.

 

It takes place at a time of growing frustration over the prospects for an independent Palestinian state. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories have expanded.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision last year to recognise disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital further fuelled Palestinian anger.

 

In an apparent sign of concern over the bloodshed on the border, the Israeli-American Hollywood actress Natalie Portman announced she was pulling out of a ceremony in Israel to accept a million-dollar prize because of "distressing" events in the country.

 

In a statement, the Genesis Prize Foundation quoted a representative for Portman as saying: "Recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel."

 

It gave no further details of her reasons. But the foundation said it "admires her humanity, and respects her right to publicly disagree with the policies of the government of Israel".

 

Israel's culture minister, Miri Regev, suggested the actress was supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to isolate Israel economically over its treatment of Palestinians. Israel sees the BDS movement as an attempt to delegitimise it.

 

The Genesis Prize is awarded to individuals for excellence in their professional fields and "who inspire others through their dedication to the Jewish community and Jewish values".

 

 
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-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-21
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5 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

And no doubt Jewish votes still keep the U.S. in hock to the Israeli version of right and wrong.

Interesting theory considering only two percent of Americans are Jews. But predictable for the Israel demonization agenda to go after Jews in general. 

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1 minute ago, Jonmarleesco said:

Israel hasn't exactly been an enthusiastic supporter of the various peace initiatives. 

Oh boy. We agree on something. Hold the presses. As noted on another thread let's see some mass Palestinian protests favoring peaceful coexistence in the form of a two state solution and you might be amazed how things could "magically" change. 

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10 hours ago, Lungstib said:

Could simply be described as a 'prisoners riot'. When you keep people in illegal, inhumane and degrading circumstances they eventually revolt. 

So why aren't they rioting against their own government and Egypt as well? :passifier:

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20 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

I've long got it. You, on the other hand... 

What am I supposed to get? That it's the cool thing these days to not understand why Israel needs to focus on security to continue to survive and thrive as a nation state?  BTW -- Happy Birthday to Israel on her momentous and significant 70th birthday. 

Edited by Jingthing
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The Palestinians, rightly or wrongly may as well get used to the fact that the Jews are in Israel to stay, and start recognising it`s existence.

 

Why don`t other Arab or Muslim nations offer to take them in, because Israel is just a puppet State of America and nothing will shift them.

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The Palestinians, rightly or wrongly may as well get used to the fact that the Jews are in Israel to stay, and start recognising it`s existence.

 

Why don`t other Arab or Muslim nations offer to take them in, because Israel is just a puppet State of America and nothing will shift them.

I wouldn't call Israel a puppet state but I agree a needed first step is acceptance of her existence and more Palestinians becoming fully settled and integrated in other countries. Like Lebanon doesn't give them full rights. What's up with that? Give up the return to Israel B.S. Not gonna happen. The two state solution also might be totally dead already but at least that's a more realistic goal than kicking out / killing the Jews.

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

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Guest Jerry787

the sionist are doing the same job of the nazi, genocide !

my question is why Trump dont bomb them as he did in Syria ? 

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7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I wouldn't call Israel a puppet state but I agree a needed first step is acceptance of her existence and more Palestinians becoming fully settled and integrated in other countries. Like Lebanon doesn't give them full rights. What's up with that? Give up the return to Israel B.S. Not gonna happen. The two state solution also might be totally dead already but at least that's a more realistic goal than kicking out / killing the Jews.

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

Sorry, but Israel is a puppet State of America. America does not support Israel because it loves the Jews, it only financially supports Israel because it serves their purposes as a base in the Middle East. US military does not require an invite to land on Israeli soil.

The Arabs that were living in that land prior to 1948 and their descendants, the indigenous people`s of that land,  have as much right of return as to what was once Palestine as the Jews claim right of return after thousands of years. 

 

Mohammad Amin al-Husayni given the title of grand mufti of Palestine, by the British during the 1940s, foresaw his country becoming a Jewish State and why he decided to choose the Axis powers as an ally.

 

Don`t take my word for it, try reading up on your history.

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