Gazans flock to Israel buffer zone for 20th week in row

Hundreds of Palestinians on Friday converged along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone to take part in anti-occupation rallies that have remained ongoing since March 30.

In a statement, Gaza's National Committee for Breaking the Siege urged the people of Gaza to take part in the rally, dubbing the event "the Friday of Freedom".

According to Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanoa, Friday's protest served to confirm "the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their determination to continue holding these rallies in the face of repeated Israeli escalations".

During the rally, at least 30 Palestinians were affected by Israeli teargas, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

According to a ministry statement, at least one Palestinian was seriously injured while taking part in the protests, which remain ongoing.

Protesters demand the "right of return" to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.

They also demand an end to Israel's 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave's economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of basic commodities.

Since the demonstrations began some four months ago, 158 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army forces deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.