Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Palestinians wounded in Israeli-Gazan border protests May 31 /update 57

Event

Israeli troops wounded several Palestinian protesters in demonstrations held along the Israeli-Gazan border on Friday, May 31, as protests associated with the "Great March of Return" movement continued. Some 4000 Palestinians reportedly took part in the border protests, with some throwing stones at Israeli soldiers; an Israeli military official indicated that Israeli forces deployed tear gas and fired live rounds during the protests. Gaza's health ministry reports at least seven protesters were injured in the clashes, while a Palestinian teenager was reportedly killed while attempting to bypass the Mazmuriya checkpoint near Bethlehem on Friday. 

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.

The latest demonstrations come as a suspected Palestinian terrorist stabbed two people in Jerusalem's Old City on the morning (local time) of May 31. Friday also marked Al-Quds Day - which was initiated by Iran in 1979 in opposition to Israel's Jerusalem Day.

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.