Gaza border protests resume, as Israel’s military chief says ready for renewed fighting

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Hundreds of young Palestinians gathered along the Gaza border fence Monday night after Hamas said nighttime protests would resume, following Israeli airstrikes over the weekend.

The protests concentrated in eastern Gaza and in the south of the Strip in the area of Khan Yunis.

Some protesters were wounded by Israeli military fire and gas grenades, according to reports in Palestinian media.

Also on Monday, some 2,000 people attended the Tel Aviv funeral of 21-year-old Israeli officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who succumbed to his wounds after being critically injured by live gunfire during violent clashes along the Gaza border last week.

Speaking at a ceremony earlier in the day, military chief Aviv Kochavi said Israel “will not hesitate to go to a new military campaign” if cross-border violence resumes in Gaza.

“In the south, we are repeatedly confronted by Hamas’ attempts to undermine the security of Israeli citizens,” Kochavi said, citing Shmueli’s death as an example.

Israel carried out multiple airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza overnight into Sunday, following protests on the border fence and the launching of incendiary balloons from the Strip that started fires in Israel’s south.

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Eleven wounded by Israeli fire during Gaza border protests, Palestinians report

Earlier on Saturday, at least 11 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli troops in protests on the Gaza border, according to Gazan reports, shortly after arson balloons launched from the Strip caused two brush fires in southern Israel.

Three of the Palestinians had been wounded by live Israeli fire and were evacuated to a hospital in the enclave in moderate condition. The other eight were wounded by sponge-tipped bullets and tear gas. Eyewitnesses on the border said that the Israeli military is employing live fire, tear gas and drones.

Before then, on Saturday morning, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy died of wounds sustained during border clashes with Israeli forces the weekend prior, in which he was hit by live fire on the border fence east of Gaza City. Last Wednesday, a 32-year-old Palestinian man died from a bullet wound sustained at the same protest.

The Hamas unit organizes nighttime demonstrations to protest Israel’s delay in easing the blockade on the Strip.

Last weekend, around 1,000 Palestinians protested along the Gaza border fence in the Khan Yunis area, with Israeli soldiers using live fire to disperse the crowds.

According to Palestinian reports, 14 Palestinians were wounded. In demonstrations the weekend prior, Israeli gunfire wounded 41 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry said.