1,000 Gazans riot at border, three said hurt by Israeli fire

Some 1,000 Palestinians riot along the northern border of the Gaza Strip Monday as part of a weekly protest against Israel’s naval blockade of the coastal enclave, the army says.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, three people have been injured by Israeli gunfire during the violent demonstrations, in which protesters threw rocks at Israeli troops on the other side of the security fence.

The Israeli military confirms that live fire was used in some cases, along with tear gas, in order to break up the riot.

In addition to the border protests, which were held on the beach across from the Israeli community of Kibbutz Zikim, approximately 20 ships are also taking part in a maritime protest, sailing toward the edge of Gaza’s approved fishing zone.

Israel maintains that its naval blockade on Gaza is necessary in order to prevent Hamas and other terror groups in the Gaza Strip from obtaining weapons and other war materiel.

— Judah Ari Gross