New Wave of Clashes Erupts Along Israel-Gaza Border: Over 700 Protesters Injured

Thousands of Palestinians are demonstrating in the third round of the six-week-long protests in the border area between Israel and Gaza. Over 700 protesters have already been wounded by Israeli fire, whereas even larger protests are expected after Friday Muslim prayers.

Over 700 Palestinian protesters have been injured as tensions at the Israeli-Gaza border begin to heat up on the third consecutive Friday of protests, Gaza's health ministry reported. The spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces has confirmed that Israeli troops are deploying tear gas and using live fire in order to disperse protesters at five points along the security fence.

Since this morning, thousands of Palestinians have been rioting in five locations along the border with the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/ReSnp4hEO0

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 13, 2018

​IDF troops are responding with riot dispersal means and are firing in accordance with the rules of engagement. The IDF won’t allow any harm to security infrastructure & will act against the violent rioters & terrorists who threaten either

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 13, 2018

READ MORE: WATCH Palestinian Rapper Records Music Video on Israel-Gaza Border Amid Clashes

Local media report that the Israeli army has closed all roads leading to the Gaza strip.

من على مقربه من السلك الفاصل شرق غزة #مسيرة_العودة_الكبرى#جمعة_حرق_العلم_الصهيوني #جمعة_العلم #جمعة_حرق_العلم pic.twitter.com/23bGCPbzkb

— يحيى حِلِّس #غزة (@yahyaHilles) April 13, 2018

Organizers call on the demonstrators to burn Israeli flags and raise the Palestinian ones. 

#متابعة |استعدادات في غزة للمشاركة في الجمعة الثلاثة لـ #مسيرة_العودة_الكبرى:وهي جمعة "حرق علم الاحتلال ورفع العلم الفلسطيني" على طول الحدود الشرقية لقطاع غزة مع الأراضي المحتلة، وذلك ضمن فعاليات "مسيرة العودة". pic.twitter.com/Dc0zSEloVM

— كبـر نيـوز (@kabur_News) April 13, 2018

RT DaysofPalestine "Raising the flag of Palestine in the “ Return Camps “ at the eastern borders of #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/YKqLpz19fJ"

— Richard Hardigan (@RichardHardigan) April 13, 2018

من خطبة الجمعة في ميدان العودة شرق غزة #مسيرة_العودة_الكبرى#جمعة_حرق_العلم_الصهيوني #جمعة_العلم #جمعة_حرق_العلم pic.twitter.com/hS61HpQ2mF

— يحيى حِلِّس #غزة (@yahyaHilles) April 13, 2018

According to videos emerging in social media, people in some Arab countries express solidarity with the Palestinian protesters.

Women in Amman showing solidarity for the people of #Gaza & all #Palestinians after several weeks of deadly protests in the Occupied Territories. pic.twitter.com/S2Uqk6KywN

— natasha ghoneim (@natashaghoneim) April 13, 2018

Earlier, the Israely military warned that protest actions which would turn violent will get a response.

Hamas terror organization is planning more violent riots tomorrow. For many Israeli families the Gaza Strip is a short walk from their backyard. IDF soldiers don’t just protect a border but what lies behind it — our families, our homes, and our children. WATCH pic.twitter.com/9Zuh4V8HQa

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 12, 2018

The six-week protest campaign, dubbed the Great March of Return, was organized by the Hamas movement and began on March 30. According to Hamas, Palestinians are peacefully demanding their right to return to the territories they claim were illegally seized by Israel, while Israeli authorities say that Palestinians can settle only in Gaza and the West Bank.

According to the Gaza health ministry, since the start of the protests, over 30 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,300 got wounds.

The protests will reach its culmination on Nakba day, May 15, the date which marks the so-called "catastrophe" when millions of Palestinian marchers had to flee their homes after the creation of the state of Israel.