For five months, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have protested along the fence with Israel demanding their right to return to the homes and land their families were expelled from 70 years ago.

The Great March of Return rallies culminated on May 15 to mark what Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or Catastrophe - a reference to the forced removal of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and villages to clear the way for Israel's establishment in 1948.

The mass Friday demonstrations have continued since.

Since the protests began on March 30, Israeli forces have killed at least 167 Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave and wounded more than 18,000 people, according to health officials in Gaza.

Latest updates: Friday, September 7

Palestinian teen killed, more than 200 wounded in the eastern Gaza Strip

One Palestinian has been killed by Israeli forces in the eastern Gaza Strip, according to health officials in Gaza.

Belal Mustafa Khafaja, 17, died on Friday after being shot in the chest by an Israeli sniper.

Health officials said 210 protesters were also wounded, including 15 children.

According to health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra, 70 people were treated in hospitals across the Gaza Strip.

Friday, August 31

More than 200 wounded across the Gaza Strip

At least 240 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli forces in Friday's protest, according to Ashraf al-Qidra, the spokesperson for the ministry of health in Gaza.

Two cases - a female medic and a 10-year-old child - were in serious condition.

Qidra also said that an ambulance belonging to the Red Crescent was targeted by Israeli forces north of the Strip, resulting in broken windows and injuring one medic.

Mueen al-Masry, who was hit in the chest with a tear gas canister inside the vehicle, was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Friday, August 24

50 Palestinians wounded by live bullets

Israeli forces fired live bullets and tear gas at protesters near the fence with Israel, wounding at least 189 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.

Of those injured, 50 were hit by live bullets, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

"We've seen a lot of tear gas fired ... [and] what sounds like live ammunition as well," said Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, reporting from the protests.

Approximately, 5,000 people attended Friday's demonstration, the 22nd Friday of rallies.

"There are fewer people here this week that we've seen in recent weeks," said Stratford.

"Some ... think that one of the reasons why the protests are being [attended by fewer people] this week is because we are expecting the resumptions of the talks being mediated by the Egyptians in Cairo, between Hamas and Israel.

"Israel denies that there is any direct conversation going ... but we do know the Egyptians are being very keen and are working very hard to get both parties to agree to some sort of lasting ceasefire," he added.

Friday, August 17

Palestinian killed in Rafah

Ashraf al-Qidra, the spokesperson for Gaza's ministry of health, said a second Palestinian had been shot dead by Israeli forces on Friday.

Sa'di Akram Muammar, 26, was killed east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

The number of wounded protesters has risen to 270.

One killed, scores wounded

One Palestinian has been killed by Israeli forces, according to health officials in Gaza.

Karim Abu Fatayer, 30, died after being shot in the head by an Israeli sniper.

Health officials said 154 other protesters were wounded, including four medics who suffocated from tear gas.

Abu Fatayer's death brings the number of Palestinian protesters killed since March 30 to 165.

'Quiet build-up' to this week's protest

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 10 Palestinians have been injured near the Israeli fence.

Speaking from Gaza, Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford said that the protests have been quiet so far.

"So far today we've seen far less of the incendiary balloons and kites that Israel says have caused so much damage across the border," he said.

"It has been quiet in the build-up to this week’s protest, and we saw that Israel has allowed the opening of Gaza’s only commercial crossing Karem Abu Salem earlier this week, and expand the restricted area which the fishermen can operate," he continued.

"It's vital if this calm is going to be maintained between Israel and Hamas that neither side commits what either side perceive as being a provocation."

There have also been reports circulating in Israeli media of an Egypt-UN mediated agreement between Hamas and Israel being reached, which includes an extended ceasefire.

"There’s also been talk of potentially the rebuilding of some of Gaza’s infrastructure using foreign funding, and a lot of emphasis on a prisoner exchange as well," Stratford said.

"But Hamas has not confirmed these reports, and there hasn’t been an official statement regarding these talks from the Israeli side."

Saturday, August 11

Gaza flotilla to protest against Israeli blockade

Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip are set to stage a protest against Israel's nearly 12-year land, air and sea blockade of the enclave.

Protest organisers told Al Jazeera that around 40 to 50 boats are expected to leave the Gaza port on Saturday and sail north towards Israel.

"The protesting fishermen are highlighting their suffering and the restrictions they are under because of the Israeli blockade," said Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, reporting from the Gaza port. "Fifty thousand families are in some way dependent on the fishing industry here."

Last month, Israel's defence minister restricted Gaza's fishing boundaries from six to three nautical miles off the coast.

The Israeli navy intercept ships attempting to breach the naval blockade, and often fire on fishermen who cross into restricted areas.

Also enforced by Egypt, the blockade has been in place since Hamas began administering the Strip in 2007.

Two Israeli drone strikes, two injured

Israeli drone strikes in Gaza targeting Palestinian protesters trying to launch incendiary balloons and kites across the fence with Israel have wounded at least two people, sources have told Al Jazeera.

"In the last hour or so, there was one [strike] in Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza - no casualties reported there," Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, reporting from Gaza, said on Saturday afternoon

"The second strike in the east of the central region injured at least two people," he added.

 

Al Jazeera

More about: Gaza