32 injured in Gaza protests 101 years after Balfour Declaration

Scores of Palestinians suffered from suffocation as they took part in the 32nd Friday of the “Great March of Return” protests in the besieged Gaza Strip today.

Thirty-two people were injured, seven with live bullets, on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Local sources said that the Israeli occupation forces fired bullets and tear gas at the unarmed protesters, forcing many to retreat.

Today’s protests were held 101 years after the signing of the Balfour Declaration, which paved the way for the establishment of the state of Israel.

Read: 3 Gaza boys killed in Israel airstrike on tinderbox border

Palestinians launched the “Great March of Return” protests on 30 March in an effort to bring an end to the 11-year siege of the Strip and calling for their right to return to homes from which their families were forced out to make way for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.

More than 205 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli snipers and tear gas fire since the marches were launched with over 20,000 injured, according to the UN.

A paramedic attends to an injured Palestinian who was hurt after Israeli forces attacked protesters at the Gaza-Israel border during the Great March of Return on 2 November 2018 [Middle East Monitor/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinian protesters at the Gaza-Israel border during the Great March of Return on 2 November 2018 [Middle East Monitor]

Palestinian protesters at the Gaza-Israel border during the Great March of Return on 2 November 2018 [Middle East Monitor]

Paramedics attend to an injured Palestinian who was hurt after Israeli forces attacked protesters at the Gaza-Israel border during the Great March of Return on 2 November 2018 [Middle East Monitor/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians take cover after Israeli forces fire tear gas at protesters during the Great March of Return on 2 November 2018 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]