Israeli troops kill Palestinian medic in Gaza, injure scores of protesters

Ashraf al-Qudra said Israeli snipers shot dead volunteer medic Abdallah al-Qatati on Friday as large crowds of Palestinians protested on the Gaza-Israel border.

"Qatati was providing first aid to the wounded east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, when he was critically injured by a gunshot in his head by an Israeli sniper," the state-run WAFA news agency reported.

"He died of his wounds a few minutes later."

The agency said that Israeli snipers opened fire on protesters, injuring 84.

The death of Abdullah al-Qatati along the border in southern Gaza came amid heightened tensions, a day after a deadly flare-up between the Israeli army and Hamas.

Thursday had seen extensive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night.

But an unofficial ceasefire agreement between the two foes went into effect around midnight on Thursday.

At least 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since mass protests began on 30 March against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and calling for Gazans to be allowed to return to their historic homeland, now inside Israel.

At least 63 Palestinians were killed on May 14, making it the most bloody day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since a 2014 war.

In June, Israeli snipers shot dead medical volunteer Razan al-Najjar, sparking international condemnation.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead near the border on 20 July, sparking fierce retaliatory strikes.

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