Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Palestinian killed in Israeli-Gazan border protests April 12 /update 55

Event

Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian protester in demonstrations held along the Israeli-Gazan border on Friday, April 12, as protests associated with the "Great March of Return" movement continued. Some 7400 Palestinians reportedly took part in the border protests, with some throwing stones at Israeli soldiers; an Israeli military official claimed that Israeli forces deployed riot-dispersal means during the demonstrations.

Heightened tensions, additional demonstrations, and clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians are to be expected along the Israeli-Gazan border over the coming weeks.

Context

Palestinians have staged weekly protests at the Israeli-Gazan border fence since March 30, 2018. Over 260 Palestinians have been killed, including 15 on the first day of demonstrations, and nearly 7000 have been wounded.

Advice

Individuals in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all public gatherings due to the risk of violence, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments. 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.