IDF gunfire injures 5 in Gaza, Palestinians say
Israeli troops shoot, wound five farmers, Hamas journal reports; IDF says soldiers fired at legs of protesters who approached off-limits area near border
Israeli troops shot and wounded Palestinians who gathered near the security fence in the north of the Gaza Strip, the IDF and Gaza medics said.
Gaza medical officials said that five agricultural workers suffered light to moderate wounds and were not in a life threatening condition.
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The Hamas journal al-Risala reported three of the wounded were shot in the city of Jabalia while two others were hit near the border with Israel, in the north of Beit Lahia.
The IDF said that the men had approached the border fence and that troops patrolling the area used means of crowd dispersal before resorting to shooting at the protesters' legs when they did not heed calls to leave.
The men who were targeted were stirring up the protest, the army said.
Israel bars Gazans from approaching the fence because it fears militants will attack border patrols or snipe at Israeli farmers working in fields that run close to the border.
Roi Kais, Reuters contributed to the report
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