The Number of Palestinian Deaths in Recent Protests Reaches 19

With the death of another Palestinian in the protests at the Gaza-Israel border, the number of Palestinians killed in what has been termed the 'Million Man March for Return' has reached eighteen; with the addition of one death in the West Bank, the total number of fatalities since last Friday has increased to nineteen. According to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 3, Ahmad Omar Arfa, a 25-year-old Palestinian, was killed in Deir al-Balah, east of the al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, by a bullet that struck his chest. The father of the deceased claimed in an interview with Reuters that his son was standing with him, protesting fifty meters from the border fence. At that time, protests were ongoing by dozens of Palestinians near the border of this area with southern Israel; Israel stated that many Palestinians approached the border in Deir al-Balah, throwing stones and setting tires on fire, engaging in provocative actions. In the protests last Friday, coinciding with 'Land Day,' sixteen Palestinians were killed; another Palestinian man was killed hours before the new wave of protests began. Palestinians claimed that this 55-year-old man was a farmer taking his fruits to Khan Younis for sale; Israel stated that on that day, individuals approached the border fence 'in a suspicious manner.' On Monday, one of the injured from Friday's protests died from severe injuries in a hospital in Gaza; early Tuesday, another Palestinian was killed near Nablus in the West Bank. Israel emphasized that this Palestinian intended to run over Israelis waiting for a bus with his vehicle. Meanwhile, the Israeli army confirmed that it has the bodies of two of the deceased from Gaza; Israel claims these individuals were armed and fired at Israeli forces in northern Gaza. In last Friday's protests, over 1,400 people were injured, including by live ammunition; Palestinians claim that since that day, with an increase of three hundred more injured, over 1,700 have been wounded. According to the Jerusalem Post, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian observer at the United Nations, claimed in a letter to the Security Council on Tuesday that Israel adopted a 'shoot-to-kill' policy during what he described as a 'peaceful' protest to prevent further demonstrations. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch also accused senior Israeli officials in a statement on Tuesday of encouraging the army to use live fire in the current situation. Human Rights Watch stated that its observers have spoken with doctors in Gaza hospitals who treated hundreds of the injured from recent protests. However, Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, warned on Tuesday during a visit to soldiers stationed at the border with Gaza that any Palestinian approaching the border fence 'puts themselves at risk.' According to Reuters, Mr. Lieberman added that 'the rules of the game are clear and will not change.' He stated that Hamas organized a provocative demonstration to undermine Israeli sovereignty and disrupt the lives of Israelis during Passover. The Israeli Defense Minister described most of the Palestinians killed in recent days as 'Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists whose activities were well known to Israel.' The Israeli army also labeled ten to twelve of the deceased as 'terrorists.' Avigdor Lieberman urged the Palestinians of Gaza to work on 'changing their leadership' instead of protesting. While Israeli soldiers remain deployed along the 65 kilometers of the border with Gaza, Hamas has set up dozens of large tents that provide some basic facilities for protesters to continue the demonstrations. Gazan Palestinians told Reuters that they are preparing for another round of protests next Friday; burning tires are expected to be the main symbol of the protests. They have prepared many tires and mirrors for the continuation of the protests. They hold large mirrors during these protests to frame the groups of demonstrators. Burning tires and holding mirrors appear to be strategies by Palestinian protesters to disrupt the visibility of Israeli snipers. Gazan Palestinians state that the 'Million Man March for Return' will be repeated next Friday and will continue until the 'Day of Catastrophe.' Palestinians consider the establishment of Israel seventy years ago as a calamity; this year, the anniversary of Israel's establishment will arrive on May 14, coinciding with the day before the United States officially moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after seventy years. Israel firmly rejects any 'right of return' for Palestinians in peace negotiations, but for Palestinians, 'Return' (Awda) is considered one of their main aspirations. Meanwhile, according to Arab and Iranian media reports, Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's political bureau, spoke by phone with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, on Tuesday, updating him on the latest developments in Gaza. According to these reports, Ismail Haniyeh expressed gratitude for the 'fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in support of resistance and the Palestinian people' in light of the nineteen deaths and hundreds of injuries in recent days. Mr. Zarif had also called the events of last Friday 'shameful.' Iran has been a significant supporter of Hamas, and after a period of cold relations over the Syrian war, their ties have recently improved.