Thursday, November 22, 2012

Medics: Israeli gunfire injures Palestinian in Gaza

Maan News Agency

Published today 20:38
A Palestinian celebrates what they say is a victory over Israel after an
eight-day conflict during a rally in Gaza City, Nov. 22.
(Reuters/Suhaib Salem)
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces shot and injured a Palestinian man east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip late Thursday after he approached a fence on the border, medics said.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours since the start of a truce negotiated by Egypt between Israel and Hamas to end eight days of deadly airstrikes on the territory.

Haitham Abu Daqqa, 23, had approached the fence with a group of people carrying flags and celebrating the end of the conflict as Palestinians rallied for a second day.

The Israeli army described the demonstration as a riot.

An army spokesman said 200 Palestinians approached the fence and "began rioting" before causing damage to the fence. He said soldiers attempted to disperse the demonstrators without violence.

"In accordance with the rules of engagement, soldiers fired warning shots in the air," he told Ma'an.

Israel and Hamas agreed to stop attacks on each other's territory late Wednesday after eight days of airstrikes that killed some 170 Palestinians across Gaza.

The ceasefire was seen locally as a victory over Israel, which had threatened a ground operation but backed down after armed groups fired rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

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