Palestinian dies of wounds, bringing Gaza toll to 40: medics

AFP  |  Palestinian Territories 

Two Palestinians wounded in clashes with were pronounced dead Monday, a official said, bringing the toll from Israeli fire since March 30 to 40.

Wahada was shot in the in a clash east of Khan Yunis on April 6, and Shamali died of "bullet wounds to his belly" sustained on Friday, according to the

Most of the 40 Palestinians killed by since the start of "March of Return" protests on March 30 were shot by snipers on the border, while a few others were killed by Israeli artillery or air strikes.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians in the coastal enclave, wedged between Israel, and the Mediterranean, have gathered at the border on consecutive Fridays to call for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their former homes now inside

Some protestors have launched stones or burning tires at Israeli soldiers.

Israeli forces have responded with live ammunition, wounding hundreds in addition to those killed.

The says its fores only open fire in self-defence or to stop protestors attempting to breach the barrier separating the territory from

More than 440 demonstrators suffered bullet wounds or on Friday, rescuers said.

has drawn harsh criticism from rights groups along with calls for investigations by the or the

has for more than a decade imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza, fighting three wars with Islamist movement since 2008.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, April 23 2018. 15:15 IST