The rallies are part of a six-week protest that will culminate on May 15 to mark what Palestinians refer to as “the Nakba” or “catastrophe” – a reference to Israel’s establishment in 1948, when 750,000 Arabs were forcibly removed from Palestine.
Since the protests began on March 30, at least 48 Palestinians in the coastal enclave have been killed by Israeli forces and more than 8,500 wounded.
Marchers are demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in 1948.
Here are all the latest updates as of Friday, May 11:
Palestinian killed, more than a hundred wounded
Israeli forces have shot dead a 40-year-old man, Jaber Salem Abu Mustafa, east of Khan Younis, according to the health ministry.
Abu Mustafa died when he was shot in the chest with live ammunition.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for Gaza’s health ministry, says 167 other people have been wounded due to live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber-coated steel bullets.
One journalist is among those injured. He sustained an injury in the foot east of Khan Younis.
Al-Qidra says medical staff are conducting therapeutic treatment for dozens wounded by Israeli forces, including women and children.
Preparations under way for Nakba protest
Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from the Gaza-Israel border, says the youth have been arriving at the protests with tires which will be burned to obscure the view for Israeli forces positioned with snipers on the other side of the fence.
“What people here will tell you is that there is a lot of pressure. It has resulted in a lot of pressure on Israel.
“We’re understanding from sources that there are talks under the table to prevent the Nakba protest from happening. Why? Because hundreds of thousands of people are expected to show up – not just at this point but all along the border with Israel.”
Dekker explained that there may be less demonstrators attending this Friday’s protests compared to previous weeks because Palestinians are preparing for far bigger protests in the days to come.
Friday, May 4
Dozens of Palestinians wounded in Gaza border protest
Israeli forces have fired tear gas and live rounds at Palestinian protesters on the Gaza-Israel border, wounding at least 40 people.
At least 13 people were wounded by live fire, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett, reporting from the Gaza-Israel border, said there were no reports of deaths and that the number of people injured on Friday marked “a substantial decrease” as compared to previous weeks.
But that figure could rise, he said, adding: “We have heard live fire being used on several occasions today. There has been a lot of tear gas, a lot of warnings coming from the Israeli side.”
Protesters burned tires at the site sending black smoke billowing into the air.