GAZA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 100 people were injured on Friday during the ongoing clashes in five different locations in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers, medics said.
The health ministry in Gaza said in a press statement that at least 100 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire and tear gas canisters fired during the protests in eastern Gaza Strip.
The clashes, which broke out on Friday afternoon, are part of the 11th Friday rallies of the "Great March of Return" that started on March 30. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers stationed at the border used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
Local media reported that tens of thousands of Palestinian demonstrators have gathered to join the rallies and protests.
They said that fierce clashes broke out in the area between hundreds of demonstrators and Israeli soldiers. Demonstrators burned tires, and soldiers fired tear gas canisters and live gunshots at them.
Demonstrators flew hundreds of kites carrying Molotov cocktails that landed at Israeli agricultural fields and caused large fire.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at journalists and TV crews in eastern Gaza.
AFP photographer Mohamed al-Baba was shot in his right foot with a gunshot and another cameraman working for al-Aqsa Radio of Hamas was hit with a tear gas canister in his back, both of whom are in moderate condition, the health ministry said.
The ministry said that Israeli soldiers also fired tear gas at the medical crews who were treating injured protesters in the clashes.
Dawood Shihab, spokesman of Islamic Jihad told reporters in eastern Gaza "from here, from eastern Gaza, we send a greeting message to the people in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Syrians, who took to the streets in their cities to support our marches of return."
"In spite of the heat and the fasting of Ramadan, thousands of people participated in today's marches and rallies to reiterate the Palestinians solidarity with Jerusalem and to say there is no place for the Americans and the Zionists in Palestine," he said.
"We tell the occupation that we will carry on with our resistance by all means whatever the price and the sacrifices are," he said.
Fathi Hammad, member of Hamas politburo told reporters in eastern Gaza "today our people are unified because Jerusalem belongs to all Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians."
"We reject (Donald) Trump's declaration and we came here to say that all the decisions which divided Jerusalem are under our feet. We will carry on with the marches of return until the siege is broken and return is achieved," said Hammad.
He said "we will carry on with our activities in the sea, on the ground and in the air. The most attractive scenes in the marches of return are those young men who are facing the Zionist arsenal of arms and guns with naked chests."
