BICOM

For the fourth consecutive week, protestors gathered at five points along the Gaza-Israel border and some attempted to break through the fence.

Israeli soldiers killed six Palestinians and wounded more than 96, Gaza health officials said. Israeli authorities estimated that 3,000 people participated, significantly less than in previous weeks.

The IDF Spokesman said that “explosives and Molotov cocktails were thrown and attempts were made to damage the fence. Our forces used a series of measures to disperse rioters and in certain cases, when there was no alternative to stop the danger, they used live fire according to rules of engagement. The IDF is working on an ongoing basis to learn operational lessons and to reduce the number of casualties in the security barrier area. Unfortunately, Hamas deliberately and calculatingly endangers civilians. Every week it places young children, teenagers and women, at the forefront of the riots to serve as human shields for the Hamas agenda,” the IDF said.

Israel’s military is investigating the death of 15-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim Ayoub. According to the initial findings, he was shot after crossing over the first line of barbed wire and heading toward the main border fence. The UN’s Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Twitter: “It is outrageous to shoot at children! How does the killing of a child in Gaza today help peace? It doesn’t! It fuels anger and breeds more killing. Children must be protected from violence, not exposed to it.”

US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt said “a full investigation by Israel of Mohammed Ayoub’s death is underway so that we will be able to understand what happened. As we mourn the tragic loss of a young life, we must all resolve to avoid causing more suffering by responses to his death.”

The IDF spokesman said Israel “has repeatedly warned citizens against approaching the fence and against taking part in violent activities and terrorist attacks. The IDF will continue to act professionally and decisively to protect Israeli citizens and security infrastructure”.

This morning, the Hamas run Gaza health Ministry said Abdallah Shamali and Tahrir Sayid Wahaba who were shot during protests on Friday died from their wounds overnight, increasing the number of deaths from Friday’s protest to six.