Female medic killed in violent Gaza protests; Palestinians call for revenge

A Palestinian female medic was among the fatalities during mass anti-Israel protests in the Gaza Strip. 

By: AP and World Israel News

In a continuation of the violent weekly Friday protests that began March 30, dubbed the “March of Return,” thousands of Palestinians thronged to the Israeli border in the eastern Gaza Strip.

Razan Najjar, 21, a Palestinian female medic, was fatally shot in the chest while treated a wounded protester, witnesses told the media.

Over 100 people were injured – 40 by live fire – the Gaza health ministry said.

The crowds gathered at five tent camps near the border fence separating Israel and the Gaza Strip. Dozens of youths approached the fence, burning tires and hurling rocks at Israeli troops behind the fence.

The IDF said it was launching an investigation into the incident.

The Israeli military said in a statement that Palestinian protesters attacked the border fence during Friday’s protests and troops responded with “riot dispersal means.”

A military vehicle came under fire, the IDF said, and a grenade planted on the fence exploded. No Israeli troops were injured.

The military released a video in which an explosion can be seen adjacent to the fence during the protests.

Friday’s protest came days after an intense round of cross-border violence, in which Hamas, the terrorist group ruling Gaza, and Islamic Jihad fired dozens of mortar shells and rockets into Israel, wounding three soldiers.

Israel responded with dozens of airstrikes targeting terrorist positions. It was the largest operation in the Gaza Strip since a 2014 war with Hamas.

Thousands of Palestinians attended Najjar’s funeral Saturday, calling for revenge.