Celtic FC fans fly Palestine flags for Gaza protest victims

Celtic FC supporters waved 16 Palestinian flags on Saturday during a game for the 16 Gazans killed during the mass demonstration demanding the right to return of Palestinian refugees, fans reported on social media.

The Glasgow football team's fan base has long been known for their support for the Palestinian cause and often staged acts of solidarity with Palestinians.

Many of the team's fans are the descendants of Irish immigrants and sympathise with the plight of oppressed people around the world.

Last year, European football's governing body fined Celtic FC, after fans flew Palestinian flags during a Champions League clash with Israeli team Hapoel Beer Sheva

Israeli forces opened fire on tens of thousands of Gazan protesters near the border on Friday, using live fire and tear gas to force back smaller numbers of demonstrators who approached the heavily fortified border fence.

The attack killed 16 people and injured over 1,400 people - 758 of them by live fire.

The incident has been condemned by human rights groups and politicians as a "shocking disproportionate response" to the protest.

Israel has defended the army fire at Palestinians who broke away from the main protest of tens of thousands and neared the heavily fortified fence around the Gaza Strip.

"Well done to our soldiers," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wrote in a statement on Saturday.