A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, Sept. 20, 2019. At least 74 Palestinians were injured on Friday during the weekly anti-Israel protests in eastern Gaza Strip, medics said. (Photo by Mohammed Dahman/Xinhua)
GAZA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 74 Palestinians were injured on Friday during the weekly anti-Israel protests in eastern Gaza Strip, medics said.
Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said that 74 demonstrators were injured, including 48 were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in eastern Gaza, close to the borders with Israel.
He added that among the casualties, there were three paramedics: one of them is a female and one is field photojournalist, adding that they were all lightly injured and were taken to hospitals for medical treatment.
Earlier on Friday, hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators went to the eastern area of the Gaza Strip to join the weekly anti-Israel protests and rallies, better known as the "Great March of Return," which has been going on since late March last year.
The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, chanted anti-Israel slogans and threw stones and home-made percussion bombs at the Israeli soldiers stationed on the borderline with the Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses said that the soldiers fired tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and live gunshots at the demonstrators to keep them away from reaching the fence of the borders between the coastal enclave and Israel.
The Health Ministry had said earlier that since the start of the "Great March of Return" in late March last year, the Israeli army shot and killed 310 demonstrators and wounded more than 17,000 people by live gunfire.
