Gaza: Palestinian man succumbs to wounds ahead of planned protests
A Palestinian man who was shot by Israeli forces during weekend protests in Gaza succumbed to his wounds and died on Wednesday ahead of planned demonstrations in Khan Younis.
The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza confirmed that 32-year-old Osama Khaled Ideij died after being shot by Israeli troops on Saturday in the border area with Israel.
Dozens of Palestinians and an Israeli police officer were injured on Saturday after Israeli troops fired on Palestinian protestors commemorating the 52nd anniversary of a 1969 arson attack on the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Palestinian factions inside the besieged territory called for protests on Wednesday in Khan Younis on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip after air strikes on Monday.
Israeli forces fired at least three missiles at a target in Khan Younis and struck empty agricultural land in Gaza City's al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, according to Quds news network.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
On Sunday night, incendiary balloons were reportedly launched from Gaza towards southern Israel. A number of fires were reported on Monday morning there, although it is unclear as of yet if the fires were caused by incendiary balloons.
This latest escalation in violence comes three months after Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip over 11 days and killed at least 260 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Last week, a decision by Israel to confiscate 23 tonnes of chocolate bars destined for Gaza, based on the claim that sales would fund Hamas military operations, sparked ridicule and criticism on social media.
On Wednesday, a group of more than 50 House Democrats sent a letter to the Biden administration calling on it to push both Israel and Egypt to fully open their border crossings into Gaza.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
