IDF fires tank shells near Gaza border fence
IDF tanks fire at three suspects spotted crossing the Gaza security fence at the northern part of the border into Israel; circumstances of the crossing are being investigated
The IDF fired tank shells at three suspects near the Gaza border security fence at the northern Gaza Strip Sunday after spotting them illegally crossing the fence, the IDF said.
The IDF noted the three were seen breaching the border before into Israel before going back to the strip, adding that the reason fore the crossing are currently unclear.
Tensions near the border have risen in recent weeks following the Hamas-sponsored protests there, calling for Israel to lift its "siege" of the enclave and recognize the Palestinian people's right of return to what is now Israeli territory.
On Friday some 20,000 Palestinians demonstrated at the Gaza border in a protest that soon devolved into day-long rioting. In total, nine Palestinians were killed as a result of ensuing clashes with Israeli forces, two of them—including one journalist—succumbing to their wounds early Saturday morning.
According to official Palestinian sources, two of the nine casualties were youths aged 16 and 17. The sources claim more than 400 were injured in the clashes.
Both the number of attendees and the number of deaths were lower than in the inaugural Great March of Return protest on the Friday prior to that, when 30,000 residents of Gaza marched at the border and 18 died in following clashes with The IDF.
