“Return”, a group of Israeli and international anti-Zionist activists protested on the east side of the Gaza fence in solidarity with the Great March of Return. They raised the Palestinian flag so that demonstrators in besieged Gaza could see it. They also carried a banner in Arabic reading “Jews for Return”. The Israeli and international demonstrators were assaulted and arrested by the Israeli military and police. Hours later they were released from the Netivot police station.
At the same time, one Palestinian demonstrator, 25 years old Ahmed Atallah, was killed by an Israeli sharpshooter. The next morning, 15 years old Muath Ziad al-Suri succumbed to injuries he sustained during the Friday demonstration. Additionally, about 220 people were injured, many from live ammunition. According to health officials in Gaza, this brings the number of slain protestors to at least 153 and injured to more than 16,000 since the weekly protests began on March 30.
“We were beaten and abused by the Israeli military today but it is nothing compared to the violence Gazans face on a daily basis,” said Omer upon his release from police custody. “We will continue to do whatever we can to subvert this violent and horrific siege, and work for justice.”