A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel on May 18, 2018. Dozens of Palestinian demonstrators were shot and injured Friday by Israeli army gunfire and tear gas during the clashes, medics said. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)
GAZA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinian demonstrators were shot and injured Friday by Israeli army gunfire and tear gas during clashes with Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, medics said.
Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza told reporters that 56 protestors were injured by Israeli soldiers' gunfire and tear gas, including five photographers and cameramen.
The protests were organized for the eighth consecutive Friday by the national commission of the "Great March of Return" that began on March 30.
The rallies took place in eastern Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon, as the Palestinians welcomed the decision of the United Nations Council for Human Rights to form an international investigation committee to probe Israeli violations in the Palestinian territories, mainly in the Gaza Strip.
On the second day of the Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan, dozens of gathered late on Friday afternoon and clashed with the soldiers stationed at the borderline area with Israel.
Young Palestinian demonstrators flew several kites carrying fire bombs into Israel, which landed at agricultural planted fields and caused large fires, according to Palestinian eyewitnesses and Israeli media.
Top Hamas leaders arrived late on Friday afternoon to eastern Gaza Strip and stated that the marches of return will go on until it achieves its goals.
Gaza Hamas chief Yehya Sinwar announced during his participation on Friday in the rallies in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip that the "Great March of Return" will go on every Friday.
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh also stressed that the marches had made lots of achievements and will not stop until it achieves its goals and ends more than 11 years of Israeli blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas leaders stressed that the marches will continue to be peaceful and they are not intending to turn it into military. The leaders of the national commission also stressed that they will keep the marches popular and peaceful.
Since March 30, the Palestinians have been calling for their right of return and for lifting the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. The health ministry said that the Israeli army have since then killed 111 Palestinians and wounded 12,000 others.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) welcomed the decision of the UN Human Rights Council that called for forming an investigation committee to investigate the Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
PA minister of foreign affairs Reyad al-Maliki said in a press statement that "it is a step towards being fair to the Palestinian people."
