Palestinian Protests Pose Fresh Hurdles for Israel Clashes are a fresh test for Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has enforced an economic blockade on Gaza to stop Hamas attacks By Rory Jones in Tel Aviv and Biography @RoryWSJ Google+ Rory.Jones@wsj.com Abu Bakr Bashir in Gaza City

https://www.wsj.com/articles/palestinian-protests-pose-fresh-hurdles-for-israel-1522604184

Israel faces a new military and political challenge in the Gaza Strip as Palestinian activists have pledged weeks of protests after Israeli soldiers opened fire Friday on at-times violent demonstrators, killing at least 15.

Palestinians rallied again along the fence dividing the strip from Israeli territory on Sunday, calling for the right to return to homes in what is now Israel, as the Israeli army came under international criticism for Friday’s deaths.

More than 1,400 Gazans were injured during Friday’s clashes, including about 740 hurt by gunfire, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israeli officials questioned the casualty numbers and said the protest was hijacked by Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that governs Gaza.

Israel’s military said it used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd and only used regular ammunition against what it said were militant attacks during the demonstrations.

“Any country having its sovereignty violated would have reacted much more forcefully,” Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli radio on Sunday. He said Israel wouldn’t cooperate with any international investigation.

The protests represent a fresh test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has enforced an economic blockade on Gaza that has hurt Hamas and blunted its ability to target Israel with rockets.

Unlike the Palestinian Authority, which runs the West Bank, recognizes Israel and cooperates with its security forces, Hamas vows to conquer Israel and has long been more inclined toward armed conflict than peaceful protest. CONTINUE AT SITE

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