Palestinian relatives of fisherman Mustafa Abu Awda mourn during his funeral in Gaza city on November 8, 2018. AFP / Mahmud Hams
Gaza City: A Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire during clashes along the Gaza Strip border yesterday, the health ministry in the coastal enclave said.
A ministry spokesman said the man, whom he did not name, was shot by Israeli forces during low-level clashes east of Deir Al Balah in central Gaza.
The Israeli army said it was looking into the incident.
At least 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since major protests backed by Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas began in March. The majority have been shot during protests and clashes, but others have died due to tank fire or air strikes.
One Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper.
The often violent demonstrations are usually largest on Fridays, but last week’s was the calmest in months amid talk of a truce deal between Hamas and Israel. Such a deal would see the protests end in exchange for an easing of Israel’s blockade of the coastal enclave.
Meanwhile, Israeli police said yesterday there was evidence to charge a lawyer for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bribery in a corruption probe, one of several cases that have put the premier’s long tenure in office under the spotlight.
While Netanyahu was questioned as a witness and not a suspect in the case, the accusations against David Shimron and others in the investigation will only add to pressure the prime minister faces.
Besides Shimron, police said the former chief of Netanyahu’s office, David Sharan, is also suspected of bribery, as is the former head of the navy, Eliezer Marom.
Two other navy ex-generals were named as being suspected of similar offences, as was a former minister, Eliezer Zandberg. Referring to Shimron, Netanyahu’s family lawyer who is also a relative of the premier, police said “there is evidence that he committed bribery offences and money laundering”.
