Palestinians in Gaza prepare for 6th Friday anti-Israel protests

GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is preparing for the sixth Friday protests close to its eastern border with Israel, as part of what they call "the Great March of Return" rally.

Starting on March 30, the mass rally is expected to culminate on May 15, the day after the 70th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence but marked by the Palestinians as the Nakba Day, or "the Day of Catastrophe."

Ashraf al-Qedra, health ministry spokesman in Gaza, said in an e-mailed press statement that the Israeli army has shot and killed 50 Palestinians since March 30, with five bodies still held by Israel.

Meanwhile, about 7,000 others injured in the clashes, including 701 children under 18 years old and 225 women, with 160 seriously injured, 1,944 moderately injured and 1,899 lightly injured, he said.

Among the injured, 1,935 were shot with live gunshots, and 401 with rubber-coated metal bullets, while 820 suffered gas suffocation, the spokesman added.

Every Friday since March 30, the Palestinian Coordination Committee for the March of Return chooses a name for the day of protests. This Friday is called the Friday of Palestinian Labors.

Eyewitnesses said young men are seen preparing fire bombs, burning dozens of tires, and trampling on Israeli flags.

Palestinian activists said fire bombs will be carried by 300 kites to drop into Israeli agricultural fields.

Mahmoud al-Zahhar, a senior Hamas leader from Gaza, warned Israel not to target the demonstrators at the border.

"Keeping this going on would make everyone surprised at our response," he said in a press statement.

Al-Zahhar was responding to Israeli threats to strike Gaza in case demonstrators try to infiltrate into the Jewish country through the border.

"If a war is imposed on us, we will join it and show them our power," the senior Hamas leader said. Enditem