Palestinian youth succumbs to Israeli gunfire wounds suffered in Gaza rally

A young Palestinian man, who was critically wounded by Israeli army gunfire during an anti-occupation protest along the border between the besieged Gaza Strip and occupied territories, has succumbed to his injuries.

Palestinian medical sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 26-year-old Karam Ibrahim Arafat died of his injuries on Monday morning.

He had been shot and wounded east of Khan Yunis, located about 25 kilometers south of Gaza City, three weeks ago.

Nearly 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the “Great March of Return” began in the Gaza Strip on March 30.

A total of 14,811 Palestinians have also sustained injuries, of whom 366 are reportedly in critical condition.

The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.

On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, condemning Israel for Palestinian civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution, which had been put forward on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries, garnered a strong majority of 120 votes in the 193-member assembly, with 8 votes against and 45 abstentions.

The resolution called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to make proposals within 60 days “on ways and means for ensuring the safety, protection, and well-being of the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation,” including “recommendations regarding an international protection mechanism.”

It also called for “immediate steps towards ending the closure and the restrictions imposed by Israel on movement and access into and out of the Gaza Strip.”