![51 Palestinians injured in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli occupation's use of bullets and tear gas according to the Ministry of Health on 1 October 2018 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Israel-injured-51-Palestinians-in-Gaza4O6A3546.jpg)
The Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip is to launch the first marine ambulance to provide emergency medical assistance to protesters during anti-occupation demonstrations in the blockaded territory.
The move “demonstrates the dedication of medical personnel and their ability to take all measures to secure the lives of peaceful civilians,” ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra said in a statement today.
Palestinians have been staging rallies and naval protests against a 11-year Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: Great March foiled ‘aggressive’ plan against Gaza
Since the demonstrations began on 30 March, more than 190 unarmed Palestinians have been killed – and thousands more injured – by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.
Protesters are also demanding the “right of return” to homes and villages from which their families were forcibly removed during the Nakba.