Two Palestinians, including boy, 14, said killed in violent Gaza border riots



Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were reported killed and dozens injured as some 20,000 Palestinians took part in violent clashes Friday along the Gaza border, throwing hand grenades and trying to breach the barrier.
During the riots, the army said Israeli aircraft struck two Hamas positions in the northern Gaza Strip after Palestinians threw grenades and explosive devices at Israeli troops
The large-scale protests came as Israel signaled it was rapidly losing patience and willing to go to war to stop the violence, while Gaza’s Hamas rulers vowed to push on with the riots.


The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 124 Palestinians were injured and two killed in the clashes. Fares Hafez al-Sersawi, 14, and 24-year-old Mahmud Akram Mohammed Abu Samane, both died after being shot in the chest during demonstrations east of Gaza City, the ministry said.
It said more than 20 people had been hit by live fire.
Friday’s clashes took place at a number of locations along the border, according to the Israel Defense Forces, and included the throwing of grenades and explosives, burning of tires and hurling of stones toward the security fence and Israeli soldiers.
“In response to several grenades and explosive devices that were hurled by the rioters at IDF soldiers, an IAF aircraft carried out two strikes in the northern Gaza Strip,” the army said.
Israeli troops also spotted 10 Palestinians who crossed into Israel and threw a grenade into the security fence before returning to Gaza. The army said no soldiers were injured.
The army said soldiers were responding with riot dispersal means and live fire in accordance with IDF regulations.