Zionist forces attack anti-blockade protesters at Gaza border fence

The demonstration took place in Rafah Governorate near the border fence separating Gaza from the Israeli-occupied territories for a fifth straight night on Wednesday.

The Israeli soldiers, stationed along the borderline in their fortified positions, fired live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs, tear gas and concussion grenades at the protesters.

A young Palestinian man was shot in the chest with a rubber-coated bullet, and suffered moderate wounds. Two other youths were also injured by gas bombs.

Additionally, dozens of Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation during the clashes.

Over the past two weeks, at least one fatality and 80 injuries have been reported among Palestinian protesters in protests along the border fence.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli land, air and sea blockade since June 2007, which has caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

Israel maintains a heavy naval presence off the coast of the impoverished Palestinian enclave, severely affecting the livelihood of fishermen.

The regime also launches bloody bombing campaigns on Gaza, the latest of which occurred in May, with the Palestinian resistance groups firing unprecedented rocket barrages towards the occupied lands.

On Wednesday, Israel removed the restrictions it had imposed on the Gaza Strip since May following its 11-day military aggression on the Plaestinin territory.

The measures included expanding Gaza’s fishing zone to 15 nautical miles and allowing more goods and construction materials into the coastal sliver through the Kerem Shalom Crossing as well as an additional 5 million cubic meters of water.

Five thousand more workers will also be permitted into the occupied territories from Gaza on top of the 2,000 already permitted in.

“These civil steps were approved by the political echelon and are dependent upon the continued preservation of security stability for an extended period. An extension of them will be considered in accordance with a situational assessment,” Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinians said in a statement.