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Palestinian wounded in Israel border clashes dies: Gaza ministry
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, March 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A
Palestinian wounded last month during clashes on the Israel-Gaza border
succumbed to his wounds on Monday, the health ministry in the Palestinian
enclave said.
A spokesman for the ministry said in a statement “Bissam Safi, 22, died
this morning”.
He said he had been hit in the head with a tear gas cannister on February
22 during protests and clashes near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
For nearly a year protesters have been gathering along the border calling
for Palestinian refugees and their descendants to be allowed to return to
former homes now inside Israel.
Israeli officials say that amounts to calling for the Jewish state’s
destruction and accuse the Gaza Strip’s Islamist rulers Hamas of
orchestrating the protests.
At least 254 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the
protests began in March 2018, the majority shot during weekly border protests
and clashes.
Others have been hit by tank fire or air strikes in response to violence
from Gaza.
Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period.
Israel and Hamas, which has controlled the blockaded Gaza Strip for over a
decade, have fought three wars since 2008.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1432 hrs