31 March

Four people have reportedly been killed in the Gaza Strip after Israeli troops opened fire on protestors.

On Saturday, demonstrators held a rally and called for an end to Israel's economic blockade. The rally was organized by the militant Islamist group Hamas. The Israeli military says 40,000 Palestinians took part. Some protestors threw stones and burned tires near the border with Israel. Israeli snipers fired live bullets. Medical sources say four Palestinians were killed, including a 17-year-old boy. Sixty-four others were wounded.

There were fears of more casualties, as the Israeli military initially deployed hundreds of tanks. But both sides exercised restraint, after Israel and Hamas agreed on a partial easing of the economic blockade just before the rally started. Tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians are expected to continue.

A general election is about one week away in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been taking a hardline stance against Hamas because he is facing a tough election challenge.—NHK