Palestinian medics carry a wounded man during clashes with Israeli troops on the Gaza-Israel border, east of the southern Gaza Strip City of Khan Younis, on Dec. 7, 2018. At least 33 Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes with Palestinian protesters in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar)
GAZA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 33 Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes with Palestinian protesters 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 33 Palestinian protesters were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in eastern Gaza Strip.
He said that among those who were injured, there were a woman and a child who were shot in their legs.
On Friday afternoon, thousands of Palestinian protesters joined the anti-Israel 37th Friday of rallies and protests better known as the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege.
Demonstrators burned tires, waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against Israel. The protests escalated to clashes between the demonstrators and the protesters in eastern Gaza.
Eyewitnesses and local Gaza media reports said that Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and live ammunition at the demonstrators to prevent them from reaching the fence of the border.
Every Friday and every Monday, the high commission of the marches of return and breaking the Israeli siege organizes rallies and protests close to the border with Israel calling for ending 12 years of Israeli blockade which had been imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations mediated a calm understanding in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel. Although a calm deal that wasn't signed and orally has been reached, anti-Israel marches of return have been going.
Gaza Hamas deputy chief Khalil al Hayya told the protesters in eastern Gaza city that the marches of return would go on until it achieves its goals of breaking the Israeli siege, adding that the Palestinians are fighting for their rights and freedom.
"The failure of the U.S. draft resolution in the UN gives us the right to carry on with our struggle to get rid of the Israeli occupation," he said.
