Israeli Army Kills four Palestinians in Gaza

The Israeli army has said its troops shot dead four Palestinians near the boundary area between Gaza and Israel.

Israel’s military estimated that 40,000 demonstrators had turned up at several points along the border, adding that they threw rocks and in some cases “explosive devices” towards the fence.

They added, four men were heavily armed with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and hand grenades, one of which was hurled at Israeli troops.

The Israeli army opened fire when one of the men crossed into Israel, it said. No casualties were reported in Israeli ranks.

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials in Gaza or armed groups in the territory.

When the movement was first launched on 30 March 2018, Israeli soldiers shot dead 16 Palestinians. Demonstrators have demanded recognition of the right of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere to return to their ancestral homes in Israel and for an end to a punishing decade-long blockade that they call a “siege”.

Weekly gatherings have diminished in size but continued for 12 months, despite the fact that none of the protesters’ demands were agreed to by Israel.