Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in Gaza

A Palestinian teenager was killed during clashes with Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Wednesday, the health ministry in the enclave said.

The ministry confirmed the news after several hours of investigation, that took place after al-Arouqi was shot on Tuesday, to determine that the bullet was Israeli.

The statement said that a Hamas probe prior to the interview “proved that the journalist was neither Jewish nor Israeli and had no previous working relations with the Israeli media”.

According to the report, another foiled terrorist, 24-year-old Hazam Hamil from the Samaria region, had connected through Facebook with a Hamas member in Gaza who used a fictitious profile.

On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, condemning Israel for Palestinian civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, a new “March of return” has been planned, backed by Hamas, along the border.

Al-Sanwar’s office explained that the journalist had applied to meet the Hamas leader in Gaza with a formal request for two newspapers (one Italian and the other British).

In addition, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated that an Israel Air Force aircraft struck a cell of Palestinians launching incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.

Since the United States President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem as the Israeli capital on December 6, the Palestinians intensified their nearly daily protests against Israel in the West Bank and particularly in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has responded with riot dispersal means and live fire to prevent attempts at breaching the border fence. Over 7,000 acres of land have been burned, causing millions of shekels in damages, according to Israeli officials. Some balloons have carried improvised explosive devices.

In regards to recent ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, Sinwar said: “The agreement doesn’t exist yet, but Hamas – and nearly all the other Palestinian factions – are willing to sign and honor it”.

The maritime blockage and strict limitations both ‎Israel and Egypt have imposed on Palestinians’ ‎movements between Gaza and their territories over ‎security concerns have plunged Gaza into a dire ‎economic crisis. Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, during which time it has fought three wars with Israel, most recently in 2014.