Mohammad Fawzi al-Hamiydah

June 29, 2018: Mohammad Fawzi al-Hamiydah, 24, was shot in the abdomen by Israeli forces stationed at the border fence, during a protest in Rafah. He immediately succumbed to the wound, and died on the scene.

In using excessive lethal force against the peaceful protesters in eastern Gaza Strip for the 11th Friday in a row, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians, including Yasser.

Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, has confirmed that Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians, including a child, and injured 415 others, including 11 children, two women (one of whom is a journalist) and three medics, in the “Great Return March” processions along the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip.

Dr. al-Qedra said the soldiers killed Mohammad Fawzi Mohammad al-Hamayda, 24, after shooting him with live rounds in the abdomen and his leg, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

He added that the soldiers killed a child, identified as Yasser Amjad Abu Naja, 14, east of Khan Younis, also in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The official also said that the soldiers injured more than 415 Palestinians, including 136 who were moved to hospitals for further treatment, and 279 who received treatment in field clinics.

Three of the wounded Palestinians suffered life-threatening injuries and are still in serious condition.

The Israeli army started firing at the protesters after dozens of young men burnt tires near the border fence, along the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, and launched balloons carrying the colors of the Palestinian flag, and pictures of Palestinians who were killed by the army since the protests started on Land Day, on March 30th, 2018.

Friday’s protest, part of ongoing processions for the fourteenth consecutive week, was dubbed “From Gaza to the West Bank, one fate, one blood,” expressing rejection of any attempt to isolate the Gaza Strip, and consider it a separate entity from the rest of occupied Palestine.

The soldiers used sniper rifles to target the unarmed protesters, in addition to firing dozens of rubber-coated steel bullets, concussion grenades and high-velocity gas bombs.

Furthermore, the soldiers deliberately targeted a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance in Malka area, east of Gaza city, inflicting damage and causing its team to suffer the severe effects of teargas inhalation.

The army attacked the protesters in border areas across the eastern side of the coastal region, from areas east of Rafah and Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, to Gaza city, Deir al-Balah in Central Gaza, in addition to Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, in the northern part.

It is worth mentioning that a local folk-dance troupe (Dabka) danced to Palestinian and Arab music, expressing the steadfastness and determination to continue the struggle until achieve the internationally guaranteed legitimate rights of the Palestinian people of liberation, independence and sovereignty.

Following a decision by the highest political and military echelons, the Israeli forces decided to continue to use excessive force against the peaceful protesters, who pose no threat to the life of the soldiers.

At approximately 15:00, hundreds of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to 5 encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege in eastern Rafah City; Khuza’ah in Khan Younis; al-Boreij in the Central Gaza Strip; Shija’eyya neighborhood in Gaza City; and eastern Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

The number of participants gradually increased, reaching a peak at approximately 16:30, in the five demonstration areas, and they were estimated at thousands of men, elders, women and children.

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), the protesters were raising flags, chanting slogans and national songs, and flying kites, while hundreds of them, including children and women, approached the border fence, set fire to tires and attempted to throw stones at the Israeli forces.

Moreover, the protesters removed the barbed wire fence established by the Israeli forces inside the Palestinian territories around 50 meters away from the main border fence.

The Israeli shooting, which continued until 19:30, resulted in the killing of 2 civilians, including a child, in eastern Rafah and Khan Younis respectively, both south of the Gaza Strip when they were among other protestors around 100-200 meters away from the border fence.

In addition to Mohammad, Yasser Amjad Mousa Abu Naja, 14, was hit with a live bullet to the head in Khuza’a and killed.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns this new crime committed by the Israeli forces, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.

Mohammad was from Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC