Palestinian teenager killed in Israel-Gaza border protests

 

A demonstrator holds a Palestinian flag during a protest at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip July 13, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

 

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager during protests along the Gaza border on Friday, Gaza medical officials said, and an Israeli soldier was wounded during the demonstrations that had turned violent, the military said.

 

More than 130 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Gaza frontier protests which have entered their fourth month and have drawn a lethal Israeli army response.

 

Thousands took part in Friday's protests, which marked 100 days since their launch, with some venturing close to the border fence, burning tyres and throwing stones.

 

Israel's military said Palestinian protesters hurled grenades, explosive devices and fire-bombs towards the Israeli troops across the border fence. One soldier was moderately wounded by a grenade, the army said in a statement.

 

"Troops responded by firing towards the terrorists," the military said.

 

It said it fired towards a Palestinian who was attempting to infiltrate Israeli territory, but the incident appeared to be unrelated to the death of the teenager.

 

The Gaza Health Ministry said the 15-year-old boy killed was shot in the chest. It said 70 others were wounded, at least 20 by live fire, and others by tear gas.

 

There have been no Israeli fatalities during the so-called "Great March of Return" demonstrations but big tracts of Israeli land have been ravaged by fires set by blazing kites or helium balloons carrying burning rags and other objects floated over from Gaza.

 

Protest organisers say the demonstrations aim to press demands such as for a right to lands lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its foundation and for an Israeli-Egyptian blockade to ease.

 

Israel says Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, has been orchestrating the protests to distract from their governance problems and provide cover for militants' cross-border attacks. Hamas, which Israel and the United States designate as a terrorist organisation, denies this.

 

Home to 2 million Palestinians, more than half of them war refugees and their descendants, Gaza has suffered deep poverty with vital infrastructure collapsing under a 12-year blockade by Israel, which says its aim is to curb security threats by Hamas.

 

Egypt keeps tight restrictions on its border crossing with Gaza.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-14

BDS

Sometime it pays to read the article properly, that's if one head is buried in his beer mug and abreast of world news on a daily basis, this was not 'throwing stone,' this is escalated to bombs, rockets and thousands of incendiary devices being used by the Palestinians in order to bring havoc and losses to israel, and anyone who engages in such activities ought o be stopped in any means necessary...

Shame on you , Israel !

Shame for pretending the protesters are a threat to Israels security , shame on you , Israel , for using lethal force on teenagers throwing stones , shame for always finding the same lame excuses for their horrible acts .." they want to invade Israel and kill us all "etc ... bullshit ! They do NOT want to invade Israel , but they hate Israel because of what Israel did to them .

Just one more dead , so used to this already ... but who are the real terrorists in this conflict ?

 

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Sometime it pays to read the article properly, that's if one head is buried in his beer mug and abreast of world news on a daily basis, this was not 'throwing stone,' this is escalated to bombs, rockets and thousands of incendiary devices being used by the Palestinians in order to bring havoc and losses to israel, and anyone who engages in such activities ought o be stopped in any means necessary...

No Palestinian need be armed to be selected for execution by the IDF.

 

The  IDF killed 16 and injured 1,400 on Day One of the protests unnecessarily using live ammunition to pick off Palestinian targets they regarded as leaders.

 

"While some protesters near the border fence burned tires and threw rocks, Human Rights Watch could find no evidence of any protester using firearms or any IDF claim of threatened firearm use at the demonstrations."
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/04/03/israel-gaza-killings-unlawful-calculated

 

If anyone has caused escalation it is the IDF. They are the ones needlessly pulling the trigger rather than using non lethal crowd control methods.

Sad that the IDF have murdered another child for trying to cross a unilaterally imposed fence to return to his family's homeland.

 

Perhaps the continued emphasis on the Right of Return to the lands they have been ethnically cleansed from marks a turning point in the younger Palestinians' fight for justice. Perhaps the world community generally were not aware of  that before the demonstrations. 

As Israel looks set in the coming weeks to entrench its illegal occupation with annexation and more serious discriminatory Jewish Nation-State Law, the struggle will probably become a more overt anti apartheid campaign, which the global community will understand and identify with more clearly.

Simple solution - STOP protesting on the border! 

 

Terrorist organisations love these "protestors".

42 minutes ago, dexterm said:

No Palestinian need be armed to be selected for execution by the IDF.

 

The  IDF killed 16 and injured 1,400 on Day One of the protests unnecessarily using live ammunition to pick off Palestinian targets they regarded as leaders.

 

"While some protesters near the border fence burned tires and threw rocks, Human Rights Watch could find no evidence of any protester using firearms or any IDF claim of threatened firearm use at the demonstrations."
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/04/03/israel-gaza-killings-unlawful-calculated

 

If anyone has caused escalation it is the IDF. They are the ones needlessly pulling the trigger rather than using non lethal crowd control methods.

And since when have attacks coming out of the Palestinan state been non-lethal?

 

No, I am not Jewish but when someone attacks you, you fight back in self-defense to deter them.

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Sometime it pays to read the article properly, that's if one head is buried in his beer mug and abreast of world news on a daily basis, this was not 'throwing stone,' this is escalated to bombs, rockets and thousands of incendiary devices being used by the Palestinians in order to bring havoc and losses to israel, and anyone who engages in such activities ought o be stopped in any means necessary...

 Israel barely now tries to hide its complete contempt for the Palestinian people as it continues to ignore international law, commit flagrant human rights abuses, deny the millions of refugees their right of return and maintain the ongoing occupation and theft of Palestinian land

A troll post has been removed

50 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

And since when have attacks coming out of the Palestinan state been non-lethal?

 

No, I am not Jewish but when someone attacks you, you fight back in self-defense to deter them.

Over the last 6 months....
Palestinians killed = 138; Palestinians wounded >15,000.
Israelis killed=zero; Israelis wounded=2.

Seems pretty obvious where all the killing is coming from.

4 minutes ago, dexterm said:

Over the last 6 months....
Palestinians killed = 138; Palestinians wounded >15,000.
Israelis killed=zero; Israelis wounded=2.

Seems pretty obvious where all the killing is coming from.

What is not as obvious to some is who should be getting killed. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

1 hour ago, lvr181 said:

Simple solution - STOP protesting on the border! 

 

Terrorist organisations love these "protestors".

If your family had been ethnically cleansed from your homes by immigrants from other countries and herded into an open prison with a fence erected by the perpetrators to prevent you from returning to your homeland which you are entitled to do under international law. 
Would you stop protesting?

2 minutes ago, Ahab said:

What is not as obvious to some is who should be getting killed. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

The right to return to your homeland from which you have been ethnically cleansed is a human right, not a game.

1 hour ago, dexterm said:

Sad that the IDF have murdered another child for trying to cross a unilaterally imposed fence to return to his family's homeland.

 

Perhaps the continued emphasis on the Right of Return to the lands they have been ethnically cleansed from marks a turning point in the younger Palestinians' fight for justice. Perhaps the world community generally were not aware of  that before the demonstrations. 

As Israel looks set in the coming weeks to entrench its illegal occupation with annexation and more serious discriminatory Jewish Nation-State Law, the struggle will probably become a more overt anti apartheid campaign, which the global community will understand and identify with more clearly.

Israel hasn't forcibly removed or deported any Palestinians. The ones that left thought Israel would be defeated and they could then return to their homes. Many support the overthrow of the Israeli government. They made a bad choice based on assumptions that turned out to never have happened. The ones that stayed still have homes, still have land, can vote, and be elected to the Israeli parliament is they so choose. The same can not be said of Jewish people residing in Gaza.

1 minute ago, dexterm said:

The right to return to your homeland from which you have been ethnically cleansed is a human right, not a game.

I have to call BS on the idea of ethnic cleansing in the case of the Palestinians. They left voluntarily expecting the armies of Israel to be defeated in short order, they made a poor choice. Nothing like ethnic cleansing or anything even close.

 

13 minutes ago, Ahab said:

I have to call BS on the idea of ethnic cleansing in the case of the Palestinians. They left voluntarily expecting the armies of Israel to be defeated in short order, they made a poor choice. Nothing like ethnic cleansing or anything even close.

 

Civilians naturally flee during time of war. Whatever spurious mythology you create to justify that expulsion then, it is a war crime now not to allow refugees to return .

 

Palestinians want to return home. The only reason Israel won't allow even the elderly with whatever amount of security vetting is pure evil racism.

1 hour ago, dexterm said:

Over the last 6 months....
Palestinians killed = 138; Palestinians wounded >15,000.
Israelis killed=zero; Israelis wounded=2.

Seems pretty obvious where all the killing is coming from.

Very selective!

1 hour ago, dexterm said:

Would you stop protesting?

No, but I would prefer to do it a way that would not get me killed and also having myself being used as "cover" by a terrorist organisation.

It's obvious the protesters have legitimate gripes against Israel.

Tragically some of them are hurt and killed doing that though those that engage in violent provocation well know that they're playing with fire.

It's also obvious that the same people have legitimate gripes against their own Hamas government.

Where are those protests?

I reckon Hamas would be much more brutal than Israel to any internal protesters. 

3 hours ago, lvr181 said:

Very selective!

I am simply detailing casualties relative to the topic concerning the Great March of Return.

But since you asked...year 2000 onwards..

 

Of the 10,851 people who have been killed in the Israel-Palestine conflict since September 29, 2000, 88% were Palestinian and 12% were Israeli.
Of the 2,311 children who have been killed in the Israel-Palestine conflict since September 29, 2000, 94% were Palestinian and 6% were Israeli.

 

At least 101,558 Palestinians and 11,962 Israelis have been injured by someone from the other side since 2000.  89% were Palestinian and 11% were Israeli.

 

https://israelpalestinetimeline.org/charts/

 

Sad figures for both sides. Time international pressure brought this conflict to an end rather than their current indifference or worse... fanning the flames.

7 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

Shame on you , Israel !

Shame for pretending the protesters are a threat to Israels security , shame on you , Israel , for using lethal force on teenagers throwing stones , shame for always finding the same lame excuses for their horrible acts .." they want to invade Israel and kill us all "etc ... bullshit ! They do NOT want to invade Israel , but they hate Israel because of what Israel did to them .

Just one more dead , so used to this already ... but who are the real terrorists in this conflict ?

 

 

How are the protesters not a threat to Israel's security? Are them protests peaceful? No Palestinian violence involved? No terrorist organizations involved? Protesters breaching the border fence is a non-issue? Nothing to do with Israel's security? The protesters say clearly that they do want to breach the fence - are you claiming they lie?

 

And, of course, not a word out of the usual suspects on the responsibility of Palestinian leadership or about the level of cynicism involved in egging people (especially young ones) to throw their lives away - for mundane political gains.

 

@dexterm

 

There were no use of firearms only if one really tries to bury it's head in the sand, or intentionally cherry-pick quotes and reports. In the real world, there numerous attacks carried out during recent weeks and months. That you insist on ignoring them on the one  hand (despite Hamas and Islamic Jihad owning up to them...) is the usual combo of expected and bizarre. Considering even the OP relates such a case - a rather outlandish argument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@dexterm

 

"Sad" that you keep peddling them intentionally misleading cut and paste slogans. But guess that all you've got on offer. The Palestinian was not "murdered", other than in your mind. And, of course, you don't seem to concerned with regard to what a "child" was doing in a violent demonstration to begin with. Of course, your crystal ball "knowledge" of his background, and "insight" as to motives remain the same pathetic fare as usual.

 

The same goes for your standing nonsense "interpretations" regarding the supposed Palestinian "right of return". Or the insistence on ignoring any of the internal Palestinian political issues involved. Kinda funny when you seem to have no issues ranting on and on about Israeli politics.

 

@dexterm

 

Disregarding your adopted one-sided pseudo-historical Palestinian narrative - the nonsense implied is that the only way Palestinians can protest involves violence (your pathetic denials of such notwithstanding). There are many way to carry out a protest. Not all of them involve violence, or egging young kids to the front while knowing full well the risks involved.

 

Once again, it is not clear of you consider the Palestinian incapable of carrying out their struggle in ways not involving violence, or whether they are somehow afforded a free pass whenever they do engage in violence. Neither seems particularly appreciative, helpful or sincere.

 

@dexterm

 

The so-called Palestinian "right of return" is not an unconditional "human right" - regardless of how your try to misleadingly paint it. As usual, leaving out that it involves things being sorted through general agreements, a recognition and acceptance of Israel's sovereignty, plus committing to peaceful intentions.

 

 

5 hours ago, Ahab said:

Israel hasn't forcibly removed or deported any Palestinians. The ones that left thought Israel would be defeated and they could then return to their homes. Many support the overthrow of the Israeli government. They made a bad choice based on assumptions that turned out to never have happened. The ones that stayed still have homes, still have land, can vote, and be elected to the Israeli parliament is they so choose. The same can not be said of Jewish people residing in Gaza.

 

Israel certainly forcibly removed/deported/expelled Palestinians during the 1948 war. Well documented even by Israeli government sources. There were also Palestinian who ran away, or indeed, chose to do so based on the belief Israel would be swiftly defeated. There could be historical arguments about the relative figures pertaining to these, but it doesn't change the essential facts - which basically do not agree with either one-sided version.

 

As for the "Jewish people residing in Gaza" (or rather, resided) - they were removed on the force of an Israeli government decision. They were also economically compensated, and of course, none of this effected their citizenship etc. Other than that, the Gaza Strip is not considered Israeli territory so the whole concept of building settlement there was illegal and bogus.

 

This topic is about the current protests, though.

 

@dexterm

 

No, it isn't a "war crime" other than in your mind. The supposed Palestinian "right of return" is not free of constraints and conditions. These involve recognizing and accepting Israel's sovereignty, and being committed to peaceful intents. Such things are usually tied with reaching general agreements. But do go on about "mythology"...

 

I'm not aware that there was ever a concrete, official agreement by the Palestinians to make do with your suppose "minimalist" version of the right of return. Ideas exchanged and floated do not equate with a "concrete, official agreement".

22 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Israel certainly forcibly removed/deported/expelled Palestinians during the 1948 war. Well documented even by Israeli government sources. There were also Palestinian who ran away, or indeed, chose to do so based on the belief Israel would be swiftly defeated. There could be historical arguments about the relative figures pertaining to these, but it doesn't change the essential facts - which basically do not agree with either one-sided version.

 

As for the "Jewish people residing in Gaza" (or rather, resided) - they were removed on the force of an Israeli government decision. They were also economically compensated, and of course, none of this effected their citizenship etc. Other than that, the Gaza Strip is not considered Israeli territory so the whole concept of building settlement there was illegal and bogus.

 

This topic is about the current protests, though.

It is certainly not bogus to describe what would happen to any Jewish people that happened to live in Gaza. They would be murdered by Palestinians in short order, no questions asked. To me that is the heart of the issue, Palestinians living in Israel are not murdered by their Jewish neighbors... why is that? 

On ‎7‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 3:24 PM, dexterm said:

Civilians naturally flee during time of war. Whatever spurious mythology you create to justify that expulsion then, it is a war crime now not to allow refugees to return .

 

Palestinians want to return home. The only reason Israel won't allow even the elderly with whatever amount of security vetting is pure evil racism.

It still does not equate to "ethnic cleansing" no matter how you define the word.