Gazan dies of wounds, death toll rises to 18

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Gaza CITY, Palestine: A Palestinian succumbed to his wounds in the Gaza Strip on Monday, taking to 18 the death toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire near border of the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

"Faris al-Riqib, 29, was injured in the abdomen east of Khan Younis on Friday and died today, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement.

The new fatality brings to 18 the number of Gazans killed by Israeli gunfire during rallies on Friday demanding the return of refugees near the Gaza border.

More than 1,500 Palestinians have been injured during the rallies, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Friday's rallies were the start of a six-week protest that culminates on May 15, the day the Palestinians call as "Nakba, or "Catastrophe, when Israel was created.

The demonstrators are demanding that Palestinian refugees be allowed the right of return to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

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