58th Great Return March Protests, 10 May 2019

On 10 May 2019, between 4:00 to 7:00 pm, thousands of Palestinian children, elderly, women and men from Gaza, gathered for the 58th Friday of the Great Return March. They assembled in the five return camps and along the fence demanding an end to Israel's unlawful prolonged occupation, closure of the Gaza Strip and the denial of Palestinian refugees' right of return. The peaceful protests, consisting of chanting national slogans, singing national songs and raising Palestinian flags, were met with unnecessary and excessive force by the IOF who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. This resulted in the killing of one Palestinian and injury of 48, including nine children, a paramedic and journalist. Amongst those, 22 were injured by live ammunition and shrapnel.

Killing

On Friday, 10 May 2019, at approximately 5:00 pm, Abdallah Juma'a Abd Al-'Aal, 24, from Rafah, was wounded by a live bullet in the back while participating in the Great Return March protests. Abdallah was about 50-70 meters from the fence, east of Rafah, when he was shot. He was transferred to the Gaza European Hospital where doctors tried to save his life in the operation room. Despite their efforts, Abdallah succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead at approximately 7:00 pm.

Injuries

In the North Gaza Governorate, hundreds of peaceful protesters gathered at Abu Safiya hill, east of Jabaliya. They were met with excessive force by the IOF who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. In total, four were injured, including a child. Of those, two were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets and two by direct tear gas canister hits.

In the Gaza Governorate, hundreds of peaceful protesters, including children, elderly, women and men gathered in Malka, east of Gaza city. The IOF responded with unnecessary and disproportionate force injuring three. Amongst those, two were injured by live ammunition and shrapnel, and one by rubber-coated metal bullets.

In the Central Governorate, peaceful protesters gathered east of Al-Breij Camp. The IOF responded with excessive force, injuring seven, including six by live ammunition and shrapnel, and one by direct tear gas canister hit.

In the Khan Younis Governorate, hundreds of peaceful protesters gathered east of Khuza'a, east of Khan Younis. The IOF responded by firing live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. In total, five were injured, including a medic. Of those, two were injured by live ammunition and shrapnel, two by rubber-coated metal bullets, while the medic was hit by a tear gas canister in the head.

In the Rafah governorate, protesters gathered east of Al-Shouka town, east of Rafah. The IOF responded with excessive force and lethal force injuring 29, including eight children and a journalist, and killing Abdallah Juma'a Abd Al-'Al. Amongst the wounded, 12 were injured by live ammunition and shrapnel, 13 by direct tear gas canister hits and four by rubber-coated metal bullets.

Across the five governorates, tens of peaceful protestors suffocated from tear gas inhalation, some requiring hospitalization.