Israeli Gunfire Wounds Gazan in Border Confrontation
A Palestinian was wounded in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday after being shot by Israeli security forces, medics said, a day after Hamas deployed police to prevent clashes.
According to the Gaza medical sources, the incident occurred east of Khan Younis.
Israeli military sources said "Palestinians gathered at the fence, and a military force shot rubber bullets in the air," adding that they were not aware of injuries.
On Friday, Israeli soldiers opened fire on residents of Khouzaa, near Khan Younis, who approached the border, killing one and wounding 19.
The incident was denounced by Gaza as a "violation of the truce," which was agreed on Wednesday and ended an eight-day conflict in which 166 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.
Following Friday's clash, Hamas deployed police on the border to prevent incidents that could imperil a fresh truce.
Sources in Gaza familiar with the matter said it was the first time since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007 that Israel allowed such a deployment.
Israel maintains a "buffer zone" of at least 300 meters (yards) in the Gaza Strip along the border, and prevents access to Palestinians under threat of firing.
Gisha, an Israeli group that campaigns for freedom of movement and trade in and from Gaza, said on Sunday that "farmers in the buffer zone report reaching up to 100 meters of the border fence today to work their lands."
"Prior to the current escalation, Israel enforced a no-go area along the border fence, 300-1,500 meters inside Gaza, comprising 35% of Gaza's arable land," it said in a statement.
Source: Agence France Presse
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