{"id":108654,"date":"2018-04-02T12:01:42","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T11:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=108654"},"modified":"2018-04-01T15:52:03","modified_gmt":"2018-04-01T14:52:03","slug":"israel-opens-fire-on-palestinian-protesters-in-gaza-trump-envoy-blames-hostile-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2018\/04\/israel-opens-fire-on-palestinian-protesters-in-gaza-trump-envoy-blames-hostile-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel Opens Fire on Palestinian Protesters in Gaza; Trump Envoy Blames \u201cHostile March\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_108655\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/palestine-israel-gaza-mar-2018.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-108655\" class=\"wp-image-108655\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/palestine-israel-gaza-mar-2018-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/palestine-israel-gaza-mar-2018-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/palestine-israel-gaza-mar-2018-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/palestine-israel-gaza-mar-2018-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/palestine-israel-gaza-mar-2018.jpg 1399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-108655\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of Palestinian protesters near Israel\u2019s perimeter fence around Gaza, as seen from the southern Israeli kibbutz of Nahal. Photo: Jack Guez\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>30 Mar 2018 &#8211; <\/em>Israeli forces killed at least 15 Palestinian protesters in Gaza on Friday, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/joedyke\/status\/979808445787525120\" >and injured more hundreds more with live fire<\/a>, as an estimated 50,000 residents of the besieged enclave answered an activist\u2019s call to embrace civil disobedience by demonstrating close to the border fence, an area defined by the Israel Defense Forces as a closed military zone.<\/p>\n<p>Video of unarmed protesters being shot by Israeli snipers, including at least one young man who was engaged in prayer at the time, appalled observers from both communities:<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/nasseratta5\/status\/979841834578046977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2018%2F03%2F30%2Fisrael-gaza-march-killed-protest%2F&#038;tfw_creator=theintercept&#038;tfw_site=theintercept<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/JacobMagid\/status\/979814637716860930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2018%2F03%2F30%2Fisrael-gaza-march-killed-protest%2F&#038;tfw_creator=theintercept&#038;tfw_site=theintercept<\/p>\n<p>The fatal shooting of one victim, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/masoud_alaa\/status\/979992686701744128\" >a boy in a black shirt<\/a> \u2014 identified later as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/israel-threatens-to-expand-response-if-gaza-violence-continues\/2018\/03\/31\/aab4d494-3464-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html?utm_term=.e6b8c0473a49\" >Abdul Fattah Abdul Nadi<\/a>, 19 \u2014 stirred particular outrage because <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Nqm5Z3MXdJo\" >video<\/a>, recorded from three different camera angles, showed that he was clearly unarmed and moving away from the border fence when he was gunned down.<\/p>\n<p>httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=N3LKLPj0NY8<\/p>\n<p>httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Nqm5Z3MXdJo&amp;has_verified=1<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Joo_Gaza\/status\/979752738354548737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2018%2F03%2F30%2Fisrael-gaza-march-killed-protest%2F&#038;tfw_creator=theintercept&#038;tfw_site=theintercept<\/p>\n<p>The unarmed protesters had rallied to demand an end to the decade-long blockade of the territory by Israel, and recognition of the right of refugees who fled there in 1948 to return, with their children and grandchildren, to their homes inside what is now the Jewish state.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This picture is striking. <\/p>\n<p>Home, for the Palestinians refugees in the foreground, is just on the horizon. In between, the Israeli army that wants to make sure they never get there. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/m5AN0UOyU9\" >pic.twitter.com\/m5AN0UOyU9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YousefMunayyer\/status\/979701554038165505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Palestinian is evacuated during clashes with Israeli troops, during a tent city protest along the Israel border with Gaza, demanding the right to return to their homeland <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SXzss6nW2l\" >pic.twitter.com\/SXzss6nW2l<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; yasser fathi qudih (@yasserqudih84) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yasserqudih84\/status\/979699774847967232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The security threat to Israel is Palestinian memory and insistence on return, refusal to assimilate into other countries but to exist as Palestinians. That is why Palestinians are always already presumed guilty <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#GreatReturnMarch<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Noura Erakat (@4noura) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/4noura\/status\/979750499519025152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>According to plans sketched out by the independent Gazan activist <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/aburtema\" >Ahmed Abu Artema<\/a>, the rally on Friday marked the start of a six-week campaign, called The Great Return March, intended to culminate on May 15, as Israel celebrates its 70th birthday and Palestinians mourn <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/imeu.org\/article\/quick-facts-the-palestinian-nakba\" >the Nakba<\/a>, or \u201cCatastrophe,\u201d in which hundreds of thousands were driven from what would become the state of Israel.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82_%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#\u0634\u0631\u0642_\u063a\u0632\u0629<\/a><\/p>\n<p>shows Palestinians marching past a tent city erected along the border with Israel east of Gaza City in the Gaza strip to commemorate Land Day. Land Day marks the killing of six Arab Israelis during 1976 demonstrations against Israeli confiscations of Arab land. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/C39cnixn4m\" >pic.twitter.com\/C39cnixn4m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; yasser fathi qudih (@yasserqudih84) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yasserqudih84\/status\/979699638671495174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>As part of the campaign, the writer <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wearenotnumbers.org\/home\/Story\/Despite_Israel_threats_of_violence_Gaza_protesters_have_peaceful_dream\" >Enas Fares Ghannam explained<\/a> on the Gazan website We Are Not Numbers, \u201cPalestinian refugees living in Gaza will set up tents near the border and move gradually \u2014 and peacefully \u2014 closer.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Shujaiya: Most of these Palestinians have never been this close to their original villages or towns destroyed\/depopulated by terrorist Jewish militias before and after 1948.<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#GreatReturnMarch<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IxTT4vvWxM\" >pic.twitter.com\/IxTT4vvWxM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; This is Gaza (@ThisIsGaZa) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThisIsGaZa\/status\/979735092305285120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#GreatReturnMarch<\/a> <br \/>In Khan Younis today south to the Gaza Strip <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JrZg26E3R2\" >pic.twitter.com\/JrZg26E3R2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; We Are Not Numbers (@WeAreNotNumbers) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WeAreNotNumbers\/status\/979808611126870017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Although the Israeli military had deployed snipers along the fence, and declared plans to use live ammunition against what it <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IDFSpokesperson\/status\/979652176065777664\" >described in advance<\/a> as, \u201cviolent riots planned throughout the Gaza Strip,\u201d Palestinians <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Remroum\/status\/979753660170334208\" >were dismayed<\/a> by reports in the Israeli and international press calling the use of deadly force against unarmed demonstrators the result of \u201cclashes.\u201d Witnesses insisted that while some rocks were hurled in the direction of the border fence during the day, Israeli forces had initiated the violence.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Fuck all biased news. No clashes happened, it started very peaceful, Palestinians didn&#39;t even throw rocks, they only held flags. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Israel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Israel<\/a> troops &amp; snipers were all over &amp; started attacking. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#GreatReturnMarch<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Omar Gaza \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 (@Omar_Gaza) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Omar_Gaza\/status\/979731173755715584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Live scenes from the violent Palestinian confrontations Israeli and Western media are referring to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YLXNJTo4P5\" >pic.twitter.com\/YLXNJTo4P5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mindeed (@hosamindeed) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hosamindeed\/status\/979719653240041479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cClashes\u201d is a word pro-Israel media use to whitewash the reality that Israel is shooting dead unarmed civilians in cold blood for doing nothing other than demonstrating for their rights. \u201cClashes\u201d fraudulently suggests equal power and responsibility. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1r8eMkKvYw\" >https:\/\/t.co\/1r8eMkKvYw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AliAbunimah\/status\/979731951522320384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">16 people killed and 1416 injured in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Gaza<\/a> yesterday. Imagine if those were Israeli, i think Gaza would&#39;ve been turned into rubble. But no one is going to hold israel responsible <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LandDayMassacre?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#LandDayMassacre<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#GreatReturnMarch<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FreePalestine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#FreePalestine<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/israelIsanApartheidState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#israelIsanApartheidState<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ahmed Masoud (@masoud_ahmed) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/masoud_ahmed\/status\/979987838237335552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 31, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Video and photographs posted online from the scene suggested that shots had been fired at protesters some distance from the fence.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"ar\" dir=\"rtl\">\u0645\u0648\u0627\u062c\u0647\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u064a\u0648\u0645 \u0634\u0631\u0642 \u0645\u062f\u064a\u0646\u0629 \u063a\u0632\u0629 \u0636\u0645\u0646 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%89?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#\u0645\u0633\u064a\u0631\u0629_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0648\u062f\u0629_\u0627\u0644\u0643\u0628\u0631\u0649<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HgcNaq2f0o\" >pic.twitter.com\/HgcNaq2f0o<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; \u0634\u0628\u0643\u0629 \u0642\u062f\u0633 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u062e\u0628\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0629 (@qudsn) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/qudsn\/status\/979752648005046273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"in\" dir=\"ltr\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%89?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#\u0645\u0633\u064a\u0631\u0629_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0648\u062f\u0629_\u0627\u0644\u0643\u0628\u0631\u0649<\/a><br \/>By\/Yasser Fathi Qudih <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0HSoYxf3gv\" >pic.twitter.com\/0HSoYxf3gv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; yasser fathi qudih (@yasserqudih84) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yasserqudih84\/status\/979699523667841029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>One Palestinian photographer, Walid Mahmoud Rouk, argued that live video of the demonstration he streamed to Facebook throughout the day proved that peaceful protesters had been attacked without cause.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walidmahmoudd\/posts\/1873372882735590<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walidmahmoudd\/videos\/1873009819438563\/<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Israeli army suppresses the Great March of Return by force in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hashtag\/gaza?source=embed\" class=\"_58cn\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-ft=\"{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;*N&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:104}\"><span class=\"_5afx\"><span class=\"_58cl _5afz\" aria-label=\"hashtag\">#<\/span><span class=\"_58cm\">Gaza<\/span><\/span><\/a> .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite these firsthand accounts, responsibility for the violence was put squarely on the Palestinians by outlets like Fox News, which assured viewers in Mar-a-Lago and elsewhere that Israeli troops had been attacked.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Gaza clashes leave 7 dead and hundreds injured. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/U3dJ4jEvFB\" >https:\/\/t.co\/U3dJ4jEvFB<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pzC5FKFsaN\" >pic.twitter.com\/pzC5FKFsaN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FoxNews\/status\/979731222015328259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Israel\u2019s use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians came after the planned protest had been denounced by Jason Greenblatt, the Trump Organization lawyer sent by the president to negotiate an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Writing on Twitter the night before the rally, Greenblatt described the planned demonstration as a \u201chostile march,\u201d and falsely accused the organizers of being members of Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/jdgreenblatt45\/status\/979548210757808128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2018%2F03%2F30%2Fisrael-gaza-march-killed-protest%2F&#038;tfw_creator=theintercept&#038;tfw_site=theintercept<\/p>\n<p>While Hamas officials had embraced and promoted plans for the march, it began on the Facebook page of Ahmed Abu Artema, a political independent whose family is originally from the city of Ramle, now in central Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Greenblatt\u2019s comments, distorting the character of the protest, appeared almost identical to social-media propaganda released by the Israeli military.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hamas tells the world about a peacful protest, it should be called a violent riot <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RFjEP1dBnL\" >pic.twitter.com\/RFjEP1dBnL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IDF\/status\/979705148120485888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After the attack on the protesters, an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IDFSpokesperson\/status\/979999392739528704\" >Israeli military video<\/a> posted online to prove that there were \u201cviolent riots,\u201d showed just 9 rocks being hurled in the direction of its soldiers, and three fires burning.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hamas has everything to gain and Palestinian civilians have everything to lose in riots like the one that happened yesterday <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AGSq3Wg5RS\" >pic.twitter.com\/AGSq3Wg5RS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IDF\/status\/979999392739528704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 31, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>There was no indication of whether the video was shot before or after snipers opened fire on the crowds, and the images were released without sound, making it impossible to say if the protesters were under fire when they hurled the rocks.<\/p>\n<p>The American envoy\u2019s remarks also contrasted sharply with comments made by former Secretary of State John Kerry last year, in which <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/forward.com\/opinion\/397730\/will-fridays-march-in-gaza-achieve-its-goal\/\" >he predicted<\/a> that Israel would soon be confronted with the spectacle of \u201c40,000 kids marching up to the wall every day with signs saying \u2018give us our rights.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In a warning to Netanyahu a few years ago, Kerry asked what Israel would do if it was confronted by thousands of unarmed Palestinians marching and demanding their rights. Today we are getting the Israeli answer.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Hugh Lovatt (@h_lovatt) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/h_lovatt\/status\/979686738070265856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The violence did shock the conscience of some Israelis. B\u2019Tselem, an Israeli rights group, denounced the Israeli military\u2019s \u201cmanifestly illegal\u201d use of deadly force against the protesters.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Israeli soldiers have been shooting at Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza since this morning. At least 10 Palestinians have been killed, including a minor, at least 1,000 wounded. Shooting at unarmed demonstrators is illegal &amp; any command allowing such action is manifestly illegal <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/luRcFuAOCZ\" >pic.twitter.com\/luRcFuAOCZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; B&#39;Tselem \u05d1\u05e6\u05dc\u05dd \u0628\u062a\u0633\u064a\u0644\u0645 (@btselem) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/btselem\/status\/979758067460919296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Israeli-American journalist Mairav Zonszein observed bitterly that such a display of deadly force was particularly galling on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#39;d say Happy Passover, but our snipers and tanks are currently sitting behind super-secure border fences, using live fire to cut down unarmed demonstrators trying to walk out of bondage. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Gaza<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#GreatReturnMarch<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@MairavZ) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MairavZ\/status\/979732960956968965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ayman Odeh, who leads the Joint List, an alliance of Arab parties in Israel\u2019s parliament, condemned the violence in a Twitter message written in Hebrew.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"iw\" dir=\"rtl\">\u05d3\u05d5\u05d5\u05e7\u05d0 \u05d1\u05d7\u05d2 \u05d4\u05d7\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3\u05d9 \u05e0\u05e2\u05de\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05ea\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d4\u05db\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc \u05d1\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05d5\u05de\u05d1\u05e7\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d7\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea. \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d9\u05dc\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd, \u05ea\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1\u05d9 \u05e2\u05d6\u05d4, \u05e6\u05d5\u05e2\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d3\u05e8\u05d9\u05e9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d7\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05de\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05e0\u05d9\u05e6\u05d1\u05ea \u05d2\u05d3\u05e8 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d0\u05d8\u05d9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d0\u05db\u05d6\u05e8\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea. \u05de\u05d1\u05d7\u05d9\u05e0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05de\u05d7\u05d0\u05d4 \u05e4\u05dc\u05e1\u05d8\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05ea \u05dc\u05d2\u05d9\u05d8\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05ea, \u05db\u05e9\u05d2\u05dd \u05de\u05d5\u05e4\u05ea \u05e9\u05dc \u05de\u05d0\u05d1\u05e7 \u05e2\u05de\u05de\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e0\u05ea\u05e7\u05dc \u05d1\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05de\u05d4\u05e1\u05e1\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05de\u05e4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d7\u05de\u05d5\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; \u05d0\u05d9\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05e2\u05d5\u05d3\u05d4 \u0623\u064a\u0645\u0646 \u0639\u0648\u062f\u0629 Ayman Odeh (@AyOdeh) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AyOdeh\/status\/979689209622683648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the Jewish festival of freedom of all days, the residents of the world\u2019s largest prison are asking to live,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/972mag.com\/live-blog-thousands-rally-in-gaza-return-march\/134158\/\" >Odeh wrote<\/a>. \u201cMen, women, and children, residents of Gaza, are marching to demand their freedom, facing off against indifference and cruelty. From Israel\u2019s perspective, there is no legitimate form of Palestinian protest. Even such a model of non-violent popular struggle is met with armed soldiers who do not hesitate to fire at unarmed demonstrators.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adalah, The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, also deplored the Israeli attack on the protesters. \u201cLive gunfire on unarmed civilians constitutes a brutal violation of the international legal obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants,\u201d the rights group said in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AdalahEnglish\/posts\/1662694590480249\" >a statement<\/a>. \u201cAdalah will call for an investigation into those responsible for today\u2019s deadly incident in Gaza and will demand that those found responsible for the killings be brought to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As funerals for those killed at the demonstrations on Friday began, Hamas said in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kann_news\/status\/980063525841367040\" >a statement<\/a> that five of the 15 victims had been members of its armed wing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"iw\" dir=\"rtl\">\u05d7\u05de\u05d0\u05e1 \u05de\u05d5\u05d3\u05d4: 5 \u05de\u05d1\u05d9\u05df 15 \u05d4\u05d4\u05e8\u05d5\u05d2\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d0\u05e8\u05d5\u05e2\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05ea\u05de\u05d5\u05dc \u05de\u05e9\u05ea\u05d9\u05d9\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d6\u05e8\u05d5\u05e2 \u05d4\u05e6\u05d1\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea \u05e9\u05dc \u05d7\u05de\u05d0\u05e1. \u05dc\u05e4\u05d7\u05d5\u05ea 2 \u05de\u05d4\u05dd \u05de\u05e9\u05ea\u05d9\u05d9\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05e0\u05d5\u05d7\u05d1\u05d4, \u05d4\u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3\u05d4 \u05d4\u05de\u05d9\u05d5\u05d7\u05d3\u05ea \u05e9\u05dc \u05d7\u05de\u05d0\u05e1. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4nfo34aJiY\" >pic.twitter.com\/4nfo34aJiY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Or Heller \u05d0\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05e8 (@OrHeller) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OrHeller\/status\/980057601072353280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 31, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Supporters of Israel greeted that news as confirmation that the use of force had been fully justified. To Palestinians, however, it only underlined the bitter irony that even when they take part in unarmed resistance to the Israeli occupation, their young men are still considered combatants.<\/p>\n<p>_____________________________________________<\/p>\n<p><strong>Updated: Saturday, March 31, 9:09 a.m. EDT &#8211; <\/strong><em>This report was updated with more video of unarmed Palestinian protesters being shot by Israeli snipers in Gaza on Friday, [30 Mar] a revised death toll, statements from rights groups, Israel\u2019s military and Hamas.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Robert-Mackey_avatar_1510760987-1510760987.-e1521991706804.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-108229\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Robert-Mackey_avatar_1510760987-1510760987.-e1521991706804.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/staff\/robertmackey\/\" >Robert Mackey<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"mailto:robert.mackey@theintercept.com\">robert.mackey@\u200btheintercept.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2018\/03\/30\/israel-gaza-march-killed-protest\/\" >Go to Original \u2013 theintercept.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated: Saturday, March 31, 9:09 a.m. EDT &#8211; This report was updated with more video of unarmed Palestinian protesters being shot by Israeli snipers in Gaza on Friday [30 Mar], a revised death toll, statements from rights groups, Israel\u2019s military and Hamas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":108656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-palestine-israel-gaza-genocide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}