GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Clashes broke out Friday between dozens of Palestinian protestors and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel during the sixth Friday of rallies and protests called "the Great March of Return."
Eyewitnesses said that right after Friday prayers, hundreds of Palestinians headed to five different locations along with the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, and burned tires and clashed with the Israeli soldiers.
Paramedics said that at least nine young Palestinian demonstrators were shot and injured by Israeli soldiers' gunfire and were evacuated for medical treatment at hospitals in the coastal enclave, adding that dozens suffered tear gas suffocation.
The eyewitnesses said the Israeli soldiers stationed at the borderline area were warning young demonstrators to go home and stop rallying, using loud speakers and speaking to demonstrators in Arabic.
But the warning ended in vain. Israeli soldiers then fired dozens of tear gas canisters and live gunshots at the demonstrators to prevent them from reaching the fence of the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel.
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.
