Israeli Troops Kill Gaza Farmer, Wound 19 Others in Protests that Follow

Palestinian FM Terms Attack 'Clear Violation' of Ceasefire

The ceasefire text, at least what’s been released to the public, doesn’t really address the Israeli imposition of a “no-go” portion of Gaza along their border, and some locals figured, with the news of a ceasefire including relaxing of border restrictions, they could once again go there.

Israeli troops were quick to respond to a 20-year-old Palestinian walking on his own farmland, nominally inside the old “no-go” area by opening fire and killing him, sparking angry protests as other Palestinians marched on the border fence.

The Israeli military claimed the protesters were damaging the fence, so they opened fire on them as well, wounding another 19 people and sparking an angry reaction from the Palestinian Authority, which termed the move a “clear violation” of the ceasefire.

Since 2008, Israel has termed the 300 meters along the border a “no-go” area, and has shot randomly at civilians who try to enter the areas. Since much of the border region is farmland, this has often meant farmers losing a good portion of their fields, and those farmers that try to farm their land despite the threats are often shot.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.