Israel uses ‘lethal’ gases against Gaza protesters, health ministry says April 9, 2019 at 5:55 am | Published in: Israel , Middle East , News , Palestine KIBBUTZ EYAL, ISRAEL - JUNE 14: Palestinian men perform their Muslim early morning prayers behind a security fence after crossing from the West Bank town of Qalqilya to work in the Jewish state on June 14, 2009 at the Israeli army's checkpoint at Kibbutz Eyal in central Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to make his major foreign policy speech later in the day in response to international demands for a West Bank settlement freeze and calls for a Palestinian state. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images) April 9, 2019 at 5:55 am Israeli occupation forces have recently used “lethal” gases against peaceful Palestinians during the Great March of Return protests along the eastern fence of besieged Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza revealed on Monday.
In a press conference, Spokesman of the Ministry Ashraf al-Qidra said: “Using lethal force by the Israeli occupation army caused the death of 271 protesters and wounded over 16,500 others.”
The types of casualties, he added, prove that the Israeli occupation “is intentionally shooting at the Palestinian protesters to maim or kill.”
Regarding the strange yellow and red gases recently used, he said: “The essence of these gases is still unknown, but it had strange repercussions on the wounded.”
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On Friday, the Palestinian Red Crescent told MEMO that cultures from these gases were taken to laboratories for testing. The results have not been revealed yet.
Al-Qidra also revealed that the new gas canisters are “lethal” because they cause “severe burns and distortions,” pointing out six protesters were killed by these canisters, including four children.
The ministry called for all the local, regional and international rights groups and interested bodies to monitor and document Israeli crimes against the peaceful protesters.
Since March 30, last year, the Palestinians in Gaza have been taking part in Friday protests named the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege.
They call for an immediate end of the 12-year-old Israeli siege imposed on Gaza and reinforcing the right of return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes and lands occupied in 1948.
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