IDF soldiers shoot at Gazans rioting near border

Medics tell Ma'an news agency 7 Palestinians hurt, 1 severely; IDF: Groups gathered by Israel-Gaza border, trying to damage fence.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST. COM STAFF
IDF vehicle along Gaza border fence 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
IDF vehicle along Gaza border fence 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
IDF soldiers on Wednesday shot at Palestinians rioting near the Israel-Gaza border fence, wounding seven, according to Palestinian medical officials cited by the Ma’an news agency.
Groups of Palestinians gathered on the Gaza side of the fence on Wednesday afternoon and spent several hours attempting to damage the barrier, the IDF said.
The rioting occurred on the border with both central and southern Gaza.
IDF soldiers shouted out verbal warnings, an IDF spokeswoman said, adding that when their calls were ignored, shots were fired at the legs of those taking part in the violent disturbances.
Medical officials told Ma’an that one man sustained serious injuries, and was transferred to the hospital.
“The IDF will continue to secure the border and safeguard the Israeli public,” the spokeswoman added.
This is the second incident of its kind along the border since a cease-fire took hold between Hamas and Israel last week.
On Friday, IDF gunfire across the Gaza border killed one Palestinian and wounded several others, Palestinians medics said.
The IDF stated that a group of about 300 Palestinians approached the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip and held a violent disturbance along the border.
One armed Palestinian was apprehended in Israeli territory after having crossed the fence and was returned to Gaza by soldiers, the IDF stated.
A Hamas spokesman accused Israel of violating the Egyptian-mediated truce and said the group would complain to Cairo.