Four Palestinians Killed and Hundreds Injured in Gaza Border Protests

While the Israeli Prime Minister claims that Iran is behind the recent Palestinian protests, thousands of Palestinians gathered for demonstrations on the last Friday of Ramadan at the Gaza-Israel border, resulting in further casualties. According to hospital sources in Gaza, during the protests on June 7, four Palestinian demonstrators were killed by Israeli soldiers, and over 525 others were injured. One of the deceased was a 14-year-old boy. Reports from Israeli and Palestinian news sources indicate that thousands of Palestinians protested in five areas along the Gaza-Israel border. While Hamas claimed that the number of demonstrators should be 'in the millions,' estimates put the number at around ten thousand. Israel had previously stated that it would not tolerate any attempts by Palestinians to breach the border fence or enter Israeli territory, and it responded with force. In addition to deploying thousands of soldiers and numerous snipers, Israel also used drones. In a new tactic, Israeli drones burned hundreds of rubber rings that Palestinians had gathered to set fire at the borders before the protests began by shining laser lights on them. Israeli mini-drones were also active to destroy incendiary kites sent by Palestinians towards Israeli skies to set Israeli fields on fire, an act that Israel refers to as 'kite terrorism.' Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, stated during his European trip in London that Hamas orchestrates violence against Israel with the goal of 'destroying Israel,' and that Palestinians 'can protest as much as they want,' but it would be better for them to refrain from violence and not approach the border fence. According to the BBC, Netanyahu added that 'Shia Iran is behind these protests; it has a mission to set the region on fire to secure its religious and sectarian interests.' Meanwhile, Tel Aviv's Hebrew radio claimed that Iran has set a monthly allowance of $500 for the families of each Palestinian killed in the so-called 'Return' protests, a significant amount for a Palestinian family in the dire economic conditions of Gaza. Neither Iran nor Hamas officials have confirmed or denied the Prime Minister's statements regarding Iran's connection to the Gaza protests or the monthly allowances for the families of the recent casualties. For decades, Palestinians have protested on the last Friday of Ramadan, known as 'Orphan Friday,' against their situation and the unfulfilled dream of establishing a Palestinian state, but this year's protests continued the 'Great March of Return.' Hamas and Palestinian organizations began the 'Return' protests two and a half months ago in response to the 70th anniversary of Israel's establishment, during which many were killed; approximately twenty were killed on the first day of protests. However, the bloodiest day during this period of protests was on May 24, during Palestinian protests against Donald Trump's decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, where the death toll reached 65, including those who later died from their injuries. In total, over the past two and a half months, before the deaths on the last Friday of Ramadan, at least 123 Palestinians have been killed, and more than ten thousand injured; among the dead are two women and several teenagers. With the killing of Razan al-Najjar, a 21-year-old medical volunteer last Friday, the number of Palestinian girls killed rose to two; some of the dead were also teenagers under 18. The Israeli army recently stated that Razan al-Najjar, the 21-year-old medical volunteer killed last Friday, was 'not an angel' but rather acted as a 'human shield for Hamas,' releasing footage of her throwing tear gas, which was rejected by Palestinians. Initially, the 'Return' protests were supposed to end on Israel's Independence Day, but Hamas and other Palestinian organizations decided to continue the protests until 'Naksa Day,' which marks the anniversary of the Arab defeat by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. It is unclear whether the protests of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza on the last Friday of Ramadan, coinciding with 'Naksa Day,' will mark the final stage of their actions in the 'Return' protests.