Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, November 1, 2019
144 Palestinian civilians, including 53 children, 3 women, 2 paramedics and a journalist, were shot and injured by Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) fire against peaceful protestors at the 81st Great March of Return (GMR), this Friday, 01 November 2019.
The increased number of injuries in this week’s GMR protest reflects an escalation in IOF use of excessive force, as 73 civilians sustained live-bullet-injuries – including 4 in critical condition- in addition to other injuries by rubber bullets and tear gas canisters mainly in protesters’ upper bodies.
Today’s protest was titled “Down with the Balfour Declaration” as it coincided with its 102nd anniversary. The Balfour Declaration was made by former British Foreign Affairs Secretary Arthur Balfour declaring “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” Large crowds participated in the protest, as thousands of civilians joined across the 5 GMR encampments raising the Palestinian flag and chanting…