Times of Israel reports, “Six Palestinians were killed and at least 252 protesters were injured in intense clashes with Israeli security forces along the Gaza border on Friday afternoon and evening, the Hamas-run health ministry said. In the most serious incident, in the south of the Strip, the IDF said several Gazans planted a bomb by the fence. After it exploded, some 20 Palestinians breached the fence, came through and ran at Israeli soldiers stationed in a snipers’ position, who opened fire. Most of the Gazans pulled back and returned through the fence into the Strip. However, three continued to move towards soldiers, who fired at them, killing them.”…
“The army said around 15,000 protesters hurled grenades, bombs, firebombs and rocks at Israeli forces at various locations along the border. Hadashot TV reported that for the first time soldiers were also being shot at with crossbows…The [Gaza health] ministry said 154 of the wounded were hit by live fire. Heavy smoke from burning tires at the Kerem Shalom crossing in the northern Strip prompted authorities in Israel to order residents of the adjacent kibbutz to stay indoors. Ynet said firefighters were putting up large fans throughout the community to help clear the smoke.”…
“In light of the bomb attack on the fence and the heavy rioting, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman ordered a halt to the transfer of fuel into the Strip…In recent days, Qatari-bought fuel has begun entering the Strip to allow operation of its only power station, in a bid to alleviate conditions in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Hundreds of liters of fuel have since passed into the territory. Israel has facilitated the delivery over the objections of the Palestinian Authority, hoping it will help ease the months of protests and clashes. A Qatari official told the Reuters news agency that the $60 million fuel donation came “at the request of donor states in the United Nations, to prevent an escalation of the existing humanitarian disaster.” (more…)