Four Killed, 955 Injured as Palestinians March on Border for Fifth Week

TEHRAN (Defapress) –One of the killed was a 15-year-old youth, Azzam Halal Awida, who the Health Ministry said died Saturday morning of his injuries, local reports said on Saturday.

At least 955 Palestinians were also wounded after Israeli security forces opened fire on the peaceful demonstrations.

Of the wounded, at least 174 of which by live Israeli fire, four were medical staff and six were journalists, reported the ministry. Two of the wounded are said to be in critical condition, six in very serious condition and 234 in moderate condition.

According to the Israeli military, hundreds of Palestinians rushed the border in central Gaza near the Karni Crossing.

Friday was the fifth consecutive week of mass protests on the Gaza border as part of the “March of Return” rallies.

The protests raised the total death toll to 46 Palestinian demonstrators, with more than 6,000 wounded since the mass movement began on March 30. There have been no Israeli casualties.

On Friday, the UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said that Israel must address the use of excessive force in Gaza, and that the loss of life is "deplorable," and that "the number of injuries is staggering."

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