(MEE) — A Palestinian female paramedic was shot dead on Friday by Israeli forces inside the Gaza Strip.

The killing took place during Friday protests as Palestinians continued to march with the Great March of Return initiative.

The initiative calls on the right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced in 1948 from their towns and villages in what is now Israel.

Gaza health ministry officials also confirmed that at least 100 Palestinians injured during Friday’s protests from Israeli fire, including 40 people with live ammunition.

Flare Up of Violence

The latest death and injuries come as tensions escalated between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant groups inside the Gaza Strip after the worst flare-up of violence since the 2014 Gaza war.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas released a joint statement on Wednesday saying they had agreed to a ceasefire and vowed to stop firing mortar and rockets if Israel also halted its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Israel denied it had agreed to a ceasefire but said it did not intend to escalate its military campaign in Gaza.

Tuesday’s incidents took place as a flotilla set sail from the Gaza Strip and attempted to break the siege on the area.

Passengers from one of the leading flotilla boats were arrested and escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

This latest episode also followed weeks of deadly demonstrations and clashes along the Gaza-Israel border, beginning on 30 March.

Protesters have demanded that Palestinians who were expelled in the 1948 war amid Israel’s creation be allowed to return to their former homes, now inside Israel.

They peaked on 14 May, when at least 61 Palestinians were killed in clashes as tens of thousands of Gazans protested the US transfer of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the same day.

Low-level demonstrations and clashes have continued ever since.

At least 121 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. No Israelis have been killed.

Israel says its actions are necessary to defend its borders, accusing Hamas of encouraging thousands of Palestinians to break through the border and attack Israelis.

But Israel has faced international criticism and calls for an independent investigation over its use of live fire during the protests and border clashes.

By MEE staff / Republished with permission / Middle East Eye / Report a typo

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