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Saturday, March 31, 2018, 13:49
UN chief calls for investigation into Gaza violence
By Agencies
Saturday, March 31, 2018, 13:49 By Agencies

Palestinians attend a demonstration near the Gaza Strip border with Israel in eastern Gaza City, March 30, 2018. (KHALIL HAMRA / AP)

UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an independent and transparent investigation into the violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters in Gaza.     

The UN chief also appealed to those concerned to refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties and in particular any measures that could place civilians in harm's way, said Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq in a statement.     

At least 16 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured on Friday by Israeli security forces confronting Palestinian protesters along the Israel-Gaza border

At least 16 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured on Friday by Israeli security forces confronting one of the largest Palestinian demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border in recent years, Gaza medical officials said.

Israeli military warned of an expanded military operation against Hamas if violence on the border with Gaza continues.

"The State of Israel cannot and will not allow this to continue," said Israeli Military spokesman Brigadier General Ronen Manelis, adding "We will be forced to respond within the Gaza Strip."

This tragedy underlines the urgency of revitalizing the peace process aimed at creating the conditions for a return to meaningful negotiations for a solution that will allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side peacefully and in security, said the UN chief. 

ALSO READ: UN gets report on what Palestinians say is Gaza catastrophe

Thousands of Palestinians on Friday started the first day of the Great March of Return, a month-long sit-in staged along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel to demand the return of Palestinian refugees who were forced to leave their cities during the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. 

The United Nations Security Council was briefed on the violence in Gaza on Friday at the request of Kuwait. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told the council at least 17 Palestinian civilians were killed and more than 1,400 injured.

Israeli soldiers stand as Palestinian protesters gather on the Israel Gaza border, March 30, 2018. (TSAFRIR ABAYOV / AP)

The military said its troops had used live fire only against people trying to sabotage the border security fence, some of them rolling burning tires and throwing rocks, and that at least two of the dead were Hamas operatives.

Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces used mostly gunfire against the protesters, in addition to tear gas and rubber bullets. Witnesses said the military had deployed a drone over at least one location to drop tear gas.

One of the dead was aged 16 and at least 400 people were wounded by live gunfire, while others were struck by rubber bullets or treated for tear gas inhalation, Gaza health officials said.

Two Palestinians were killed by tank fire, the Gaza Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said the two were militants who had opened fire at troops across the border.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that Israel was responsible for the violence and declared Saturday a national day of mourning.

A Palestinian woman reacts from the fire shooting by Israeli troops during a demonstration near the Gaza Strip border with Israel, in eastern Gaza City, March 30, 2018. (KHALIL HAMRA / AP)

A senior UN official told the UN Security Council there are fears the situation in Gaza "might deteriorate in the coming days."

The protest presented a rare show of unity among rival Palestinian factions in the impoverished Gaza Strip, where pressure has been building on Hamas and Abbas's Fatah movement to end a decade-old rift. Reconciliation efforts to end the feud have been faltering for months.

The demonstration was launched on "Land Day," an annual commemoration of the deaths of six Arab citizens of Israel killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations over government land confiscations in northern Israel in 1976.

But its main focus was a demand that Palestinian refugees be allowed the right of return to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948. 

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