Due to the potentialities involved with reporting this story, FRN has opted to also cover the facts directly from Tel Aviv’s own Ha’aretz as they reported it. We make no claims to its veracity – ed

PALESTINE – Palestinian medic dies after sustaining serious gunshot wound to the head, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports. Committee leading demonstrations began calling on Gazans to join in protests before cease-fire had been declared.

Two Palestinians, one of whom was a medic, were killed and 307 Palestinians were wounded in clashes near the Gaza-Israel border, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported Friday. 131 of the casualties were taken to local hospitals and 85 were said to be wounded from live fire. Five are currently in serious condition.

The Palestinian medic was identified as Abdullah Al-Qatati, while the second fatality was identified as a 55-year-old man.

Thousands of protesters reportedly gathered in five locations along the border, where demonstrators threw firebombs and stones at IDF forces and set fire to tires, the military reported. IDF forces also identified a person attempting to cross the border and who immediately returned back.

A number of Palestinians also threw a grenade at IDF forces in northern Gaza, the military said, though no casualties were reported. An IDF tank attacked a Hamas position in northern Gaza on two separate occasions, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

Hamas called on Palestinians to march along the Gaza border earlier Friday. “The Palestinian people have stamina, and will continue the resistance with every means until achieving independence and freedom,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem in response to Thursday’s Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, adding that Israel has repeatedly failed to break their spirits.

- Advertisement -

The committee in charge of the procession began calling on Gazans to join in protests before a cease-fire had been declared on Thursday.

An Egyptian source told Haaretz Thursday night that a cease-fire deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas. A senior Israeli source denied the reports.

According to Israeli assessments, Hamas wants to end the current round of violence following the damage and casualties caused by the military’s attacks on the Strip. An Israeli official told Haaretz that while Hamas had been seeking a cease-fire agreement through intermediaries since Thursday morning, Israel continued to attack high-profile targets.

According to Al-Jazeera, the deal would take effect immediately. Following the deal, the military announced it would lift restrictions on Gaza border communities.

Since Wednesday night, Israel struck 150 targets in Gaza in retaliation to some 200 rockets fired from the Strip at Israel. Over 30 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Several exploded inside Israel, including in the southern city of Be’er Sheva, located some 40 kilometers from the Strip. This was the first time rockets were fired at the city since the 2014 Gaza war. A woman in Israel was seriously wounded while two others suffered light injuries.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that three Palestinians were killed by the Israeli attacks, including a pregnant woman, 23, her 18-month-old toddler and a man, who was identified as 30-year-old Ali Alrandur. He is the son of one of the commanders of Hamas’ armed wing, Iz al-Din al-Qassam. Six other people were wounded by the strikes.