Gaza rallies to mark 'Great Return' protest anniversary

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Media captionTense scenes unfold at the Gaza-Israel border fence area

Thousands of Palestinians are gathering in the Gaza Strip to mark the anniversary of the start of protests along the boundary fence with Israel.

At least 189 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed between March and December 2018, the UN says.

The rallies backed the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to ancestral homes in what is now Israel.

A UN inquiry says Israeli soldiers may have committed war crimes during the marches – a charge Israel rejects.

This day of protests will be a serious test of the fragile calm between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza, says the BBC’s Yolande Knell in Jerusalem.

Egypt and the UN have been negotiating to try to prevent a further escalation after a tense week in which Palestinian militants fired rockets at Israel and Israel’s air force struck dozens of sites in Gaza.

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With large crowds expected near the fence, Israel has deployed extra soldiers, including snipers.

Previous demonstrations have turned violent with Gazans throwing stones and petrol bombs at Israeli troops.

Israel’s military says it only opens fire to stop Palestinians crossing into Israeli territory and protect Israeli civilians.

Palestinian health officials say one man was shot dead by Israeli troops close to the fence overnight.

What happened during the protests?

Palestinians have been taking part in protests along the border since 30 March 2018 as part of a campaign, dubbed “the Great March of Return”.

The campaign has been organised by the militant Hamas movement – which dominates Gaza and is designated a terrorist group by Israel – and other groups.

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Reuters

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The protesters demanded that Palestinian refugees be given the right of return

The Israeli government has said terrorists have been seeking to use the protests as cover to cross into its territory and carry out attacks.

It deployed soldiers along the border fence, who it said were ordered to resort to live fire only when absolutely necessary and when there was an imminent threat.

A commission of inquiry, which was set up by the UN Human Rights Council in May, investigated the killing of 189 Palestinians between 30 March and 31 December 2018.

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Reuters

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Palestinian health officials say thousands of protesters have been hit by live rounds

Thirty-five of the fatalities were children, three were clearly marked paramedics, and two were clearly marked journalists, the commission found.

The inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli snipers had shot at children, medics and journalists, even though they were clearly recognisable as such.

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Media captionThe BBC’s Paul Adams on the issues at the root of the conflict in Gaza

Four Israeli soldiers were injured at the demonstrations. One Israeli soldier was killed on a protest day but outside the protest sites, the commission said.

Unless undertaken lawfully in self-defence, intentionally shooting a civilian not directly participating in hostilities is a war crime.

Israel’s acting foreign minister said it rejected the findings outright.

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Media captionHow kites and balloons became militant weapons

“The Human Rights Council’s Theatre of the Absurd has once again produced a report that is hostile, mendacious and biased against Israel,” Israel Katz said.

“No-one can deny Israel the right to self-defence and the obligation to protect its citizens and its borders against violent attacks.”

source: bbc.com