85 Palestinians, Including 10 Children, Injured in Israeli Shooting at Demonstrators in North Gaza

At 10am on Friday, 20 April 2018, Israeli forces based in monitoring sites opened fire and launched tear gas grenades at hundreds of Palestinian children and youth who assembled to the east of Al Shuhada cemetery in eastern Jabalia refugee camp in North Gaza city to join the “Great Return March” demonstrations, held to mark Land Day. Three protesters were killed: Mohammed Abu Aqel, 24; Ahmed Al Athamna, 25; and Mohammed Ayoub, 14. 85 other protesters, including 10 children and one journalist, were injured. 

Doctors at the Indonesia, Al Awda, and Kamal Adwan hospitals assessed injuries to range from moderate to serious. 35 of these casualties were caused by live ammunition that hit different parts of their bodies, and 27 by tear-gas grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets. One demonstrator’s injury involved burning different parts of his body. 22 other protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation; medical staff provided the necessary medical care to other casualties in the field. Israeli shooting continued until the evening of the same day.