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20 wounded in Gaza sea protests

Israeli forces attack protesters during the 'maritime demonstration' to break the Gaza blockade by sea with vessels in Gaza

October 23, 2018 at 10:24 am

At least 20 Palestinian protesters were shot and wounded by Israeli occupation forces yesterday the 13th maritime protest in Gaza, Palestinian medical sources said.

Spokesman of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza Ashraf Al-Qidra said the demonstrators were taking part in civil action as part of the “Great March of Return”.

Thousands of Palestinians gather on the beach in the northeastern Gaza city of Beit Lahiya to protest against the 11-year-old Israeli siege and to reinforce their right of refugee to homes their families were forced out of to make way for the creation of the state of Israel.

Scores of Palestinian boats took part in the protest calling for a sea passage to be established. Palestinians are only allowed access to between six to nine nautical miles of waterway from their shores and cannot access international waters. Israeli naval forces regularly shoot at fisherman who approach the “sea barrier” set by the occupation.

Since the start of the “Great March of Return”, Israel has killed 205 protesters and wounded more than 22,000 others, the Palestinian ministry of health said.

Read: Will the intensity of the return marches decline?