UPDATE: 16 protesters were killed today as they tried to storm the Israeli border for Nakba Day.
Palestinians attend a protest to mark “Nakba” near the border between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip May 15, 2011. Violence erupted on Israel’s borders with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on Sunday, leaving at least eight dead and dozens wounded, as Palestinians marked what they term “the catastrophe” of Israel’s founding in 1948. (REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
Four Syrian protesters were killed today when they tried to storm the Israeli border on Nakba (Naqba) Day.
YNet News reported:
Deadly border clash on ‘Nakba Day’: Four people were killed and dozens were hurt on Israel’s northern border Sunday after Syrian infiltrators marking ‘Nakba Day’ trampled the border fence and were shot by IDF forces.
Magen David Adom emergency services said 13 people were lightly wounded on Israel’s side of the border near the Druze village of Majdal Shams, including 10 IDF soldiers.
The wounded Israeli troops, who were hurt by stones hurled at them, include the Golan Brigade Commander, Colonel Eshkol Shukrun, who continued to supervise his forces despite his injury.
Dozens of ambulances rushed to the area, with village residents saying they could hear echoes of the fire for a long time. Security and emergency forces are operating cautiously at the site of the incident, where many landmines have been placed in the past.
The IDF said that the incident occurred at two sites in the area. Military officials said the IDF was using “all means” in order to keep infiltrators out of Israel. However, zones of Syrians were apparently able to enter Majdal Shams.
Earlier today the media reported that 4 Syrians had been killed.