Thousands of Palestinian women rally in Gaza against Israeli blockade

Thousands of Palestinian women rally in Gaza against Israeli blockade
Since the end of March, Gazans have been demonstrating against Israel's decade-long blockade and in support of the right to return to lands they were driven from in 1948.
2 min read
04 July, 2018
Since the end of March, Gazans have been protesting against Israel's blockade. [Getty]

Thousands of Palestinian women demonstrated on Tuesday along the fence that separates the Gaza Strip from Israel, their first mass mobilisation since protests erupted on the border three months ago.

Since the end of March, Gazans have been demonstrating along the heavily guarded frontier in protest at Israel's decade-long blockade of the territory and in support of the Palestinians' right to return to lands they fled or were driven from during the war surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948.

On Tuesday, women arrived in buses from across the enclave, many accompanied by their children, AFP correspondents said.

They moved in groups to within 50 metres of the fence that divides the Gaza Strip from Israeli territory, they reported.

Seventeen people were wounded by Israeli gunfire, Gaza's health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP.

"I came to finish the march that my daughter had started," Rim Abu Irmana said, waving a picture of her 15-year-old daughter, Wasal, who was killed by Israeli gunfire on 14 May.

"These demonstrations are peaceful. We are only defending our land and our rights," added the 43-year-old, holding the hand of her young son.

Since the protests and clashes broke out along the Gaza border on 30 March, at least 145 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.

The majority were involved in non-violent protests but others were seeking to breach or damage the border fence.

No Israelis have been killed.

The demonstrations peaked when at least 62 Palestinians were massacred as thousands approached the border fence in protest at the US decision to move its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem on 14 May. 

Israel insists the whole of Jerusalem is its "eternal indivisible capital" but East Jerusalem is recognised as occupied Palestinian territory under international law.