30 Palestinians injured in clashes in eastern Gaza: medics

A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to throw back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, on Jan. 18, 2019. At least 30 Palestinians were injured in clashes on Friday between hundreds of protesters and Israeli soldiers stationed at the borderline of eastern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza medics. (Xinhua)

At least 30 Palestinians were injured in clashes on Friday between hundreds of protesters and Israeli soldiers stationed at the borderline of eastern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza medics.

At least 30 Palestinian demonstrators were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes in eastern Gaza Strip, said Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza.

The Gaza-based Al-Sha'b (people) Radio reported that demonstrators threw stones at the soldiers stationed on the border, who fired back tear gas and live gunshots at the demonstrators.

Since March 30 last year, people in Gaza started the weekly anti-Israel rallies called the "Great March of Return."

"All the casualties were either treated in the field or transferred to the hospitals," said al-Qedra.

Around 20,000 demonstrators gathered in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans, said the eyewitnesses.

The protesters demand for allowing the shipment of the 15 million U.S. dollars, a third installment of the Qatari grant to Gaza to pay the salaries of Hamas employees, and relaxing a blockade that Israel has been imposing on the Gaza Strip since 2007.