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Palestinians protest in Haifa against Gaza killings

More than 10,000 Moroccans also protest against US embassy move to Jerusalem
Palestinians carry man wounded by Israeli forces near border between Gaza and Israel last week (AFP)

Hundreds of Palestinian citizens of Israel demonstrated on Saturday evening in Haifa in solidarity with Gaza, where more than 60 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire in recent days, an AFP reporter said.

Protesters shouted "down with the occupation, stop fascism" and denounced the arrests on Friday of 19 people during a previous rally held in solidarity with Gaza residents.

They were 

Palestinian citizens of Israel, the descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land when Israel was created in 1948, compose about 17.5 percent of the Israeli population.

They waved four large letters in bright red, making up the word "Gaza" and chanted slogans including "Jews and Arabs, we are not enemies".

A total of 62 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday, when thousands of Palestinians protested as the US officially moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after recognising the disputed city as the capital of Israel.

They were among 119 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel since mass demonstrations started on 30 March, according to authorities in Gaza, which is run by the Islamist movement Hamas.

The Israeli army insists its actions are necessary to defend the border and prevent mass infiltrations. 

It accuses Hamas of using the demonstrations to approach and damage the border fence, including laying explosive devices and attacking soldiers.

Casablanca protests

More than 10,000 Moroccans chanting "Death to Israel" took to the streets of Casablanca on Sunday to protest against the US decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The marchers carried Palestinian flags and placards that read "Jerusalem, Palestine's eternal capital".

The Casablanca protest had been called by a coalition of four parties including al-Adl Wal Ihsan, which is seen as Morocco's most powerful opposition group in terms of rallying supporters on the street.

Heart attack

Palestinian and Israeli sources on Sunday said a Palestinian prisoner had died of a heart attack while in Israeli custody.

Aziz Ewisat had been serving a 30-year prison sentence since 2014 and suffered a heart attack earlier this month, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club said. 

Israeli prison authorities said he had heart failure after attacking a guard, adding that Ewisat was a member of Hamas.

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