Israel/Palestinian Terr.: 12 killed and 1000 wounded in Gaza protests March 30 /update 6

Event

Large protests erupted in the Gaza Strip near the security barrier on the Israel-Gaza border on Friday, March 30 ("Land Day"), as part of a scheduled six-week tent city protest - termed the "Great March of Return" - demanding a right to return to land now part of Israel. Some 30,000 Palestinians have reportedly participated in the protests which are centered in five camp areas along the Israel-Gaza border. According to Gazan health officials, at least 12 Palestinians have been killed and over 1000 others wounded in clashes with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel along the border. Palestinian protesters also staged smaller demonstrations in the West Bank on Friday; around 65 Palestinians were reported to have been wounded in the protests.

A continued heightened security presence, additional clashes between IDF soldiers and Palestinian protesters, and further casualties are expected along the Israel-Gaza border in the coming weeks as the planned protests continue.

Context

An Israeli general warned on March 28 that the army would open fire on anyone who approached the "no go" zone along the Israeli border "dangerously." Additional Israeli troops, including 100 snipers, have been deployed to the border area and the border fence has been reinforced.

Land Day commemorates the events of March 30, 1976, when six Arab-Israeli citizens were killed and hundreds more wounded or arrested amid a general strike and widespread protests over land confiscated by Israeli authorities.

This year, March 30 also coincides with the start of the Jewish Passover holiday, which runs until Saturday, April 7. Security measures have been strengthened across Israel for Passover, including operations to arrest undocumented Palestinian workers in the country. Typically, Israeli security forces maintain a heightened security presence in East Jerusalem during Passover and forbid Palestinians from entering Israel to work, including those with valid permits.

The Gaza Strip has been under Hamas control, and subject to an Israeli-imposed blockade, since June 2007. Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated significantly over the past decade, due in large part to shortages of potable water and regular, widespread power cuts. The coastal enclave is one of the most densely-populated regions of the world, home to over 2 million people.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.