Bloodbath in Gaza
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Over a decade of ruthless Israeli oppression of two million besieged Gazans goes largely unnoticed in the West - including high crimes of war, against humanity, and slow-motion genocide, an entire population being suffocated unaccountably.
On Friday, commemorating Land Day on its 42nd anniversary since 1976 in response to Israel’s announced intention to steal thousands of dunums of Palestinian land for settlement construction, Gazans protested Friday as part of “The Great March of Return” across the Strip.
On March 30, 1976, Israeli police lethally shot six Arab citizens, protesting peacefully against theft of Palestinian land.
Since then, annual Palestinian protests commemorate that fateful day throughout the territories and in Israel.
In Gaza on Friday, things turned bloody, at least 11 Palestinians lethally shot, around 1,100 others injured, some seriously, the casualty count rising - information provided by Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Ashraf Al-Qedra.
Israel deployed scores of snipers along the Gaza border, using live fire and rubber-coated steel bullets on defenseless Gazans - drones circling overhead firing tear gas canisters on protesters.
A Palestinian farmer in his field threatening no one was killed by tank shelling, one or more others wounded by the incident.
Earlier, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said “(t)he Palestinian people have proved time after time that they can take the initiative and do great things.”
“This march is the beginning of the return to all of Palestine. This march sends a message that the Palestinian people are united against the occupation and against the blockade and against the concessions and against the suspicious deals.”
“We will not give up, and we will not bargain with the Zionist entity over even a small piece of the land of Palestine.”
“Our people went out today to make it clear that we will not give up Jerusalem, and that there is no alternative to Palestine and the right of return. We will not accept the right of return staying only a slogan.”
Before Israeli-initiated violence erupted, the IDF declared Gaza’s border with Israel a “closed military zone” - Palestinians close to it on their own land vulnerable to being shot.
An IDF statement turned truth on its head, calling peaceful protests “violent riots,” adding:
“17,000 Palestinians are rioting in 5 locations along the Gaza Strip security fence.”
“The rioters are rolling burning tires and hurling firebombs & rocks at the security fence & IDF troops, who are responding w riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators.”
Palestinian activists denounced the Big Lie, explaining the “March of Return” was organized as a 45-day nonviolent protest, continuing through mid-May Nakba Day.
How many more Palestinians will Israel murder over the next six week, how many more injured, how many seriously, how many maimed for life?
How many parents will lose children? How many children and youths will lose fathers and/or mothers?
How many will lose siblings and/or other loved ones? How much Israeli brutality is too much? How long can the world community pretend not to notice?
When will fundamental Palestinian rights be enforced, Israel held accountable for decades of high crimes too grievous to ignore?
Millions of persecuted Palestinians, including refugees and diaspora ones, demand answers they deserve.
They demand long denied justice!
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