Video Shows Palestinians From Gaza Cut Border Fence, Enter Israeli Territory
Palestinians report six wounded, one seriously, by live fire at protests near border. Israeli army says it shot toward Palestinians who tried to damage fence
A video released by Al-Jazeera on Friday shows Palestinians cutting through the security fence at the Gaza Strip border and entering Israeli territory.
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In the video, several Palestinians are seen approaching the fence and shouting, with one shouting "God is with us, we are crossing the fence." The young man goes on to encourage the others to damage the fence and cross through it.
The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that it had thwarted two attempts by protesters to damage the fence and cross into Israeli territory. The protesters turned back after troops arrived, the army said.
Attempts by Palestinians in Gaza to cross into Israeli territory continued on Saturday, the IDF spokesman said.
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Israeli troops observed several people who had crossed the border fence at the southern Gaza Strip and placed firebombs, the military said. The suspects returned to Gazan territory. Several people also approached the border fence in an attempt to damage it and turned back when troops opened fire in their direction.
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Six Palestinians were wounded, including one seriously, by IDF live fire in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
A day earlier, 70 Palestinians were wounded by live fire during the sixth consecutive Friday of protests along the Gaza border fence, the health ministry in Gaza said. It was the first Friday protest in which no fatalities or fatal injuries were recorded since the protests began six weeks ago.
The IDF said on Friday a few dozen protesters set fires at several locations on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing with the aim of damaging pipelines that transfer gas and fuel from Israel into the Strip. Several attempts were made by protesters to cross into Israeli territory, the military said, leading to three arrests.
Also Friday, two IDF drones sent to observe the protests crashed on the Palestinian side of the border, with Palestinian media outlets claiming they were downed by protesters.