Gaza toll rises to 17 after Palestinian dies of wounds

GAZA CITY: A Palestinian succumbed to his wounds Monday three days after being shot by Israeli forces when a mass protest led to clashes, Gaza´s health ministry said, raising the death toll to 17.

Faris al-Raqib, 29, was shot in the stomach during Friday´s clashes east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, the health ministry said, as tens of thousands of people took part in some of the largest protests in recent years.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said in a statement that Raqib was a member, but that he was not carrying a weapon when he was shot.

In an AFP photo before his injury, Raqib is seen carrying one of the wounded away from the clashes. Hundreds of others were wounded, many of them by live fire, resulting in calls for an independent investigation by the European Union and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Palestinians say protesters were shot while posing no threat to soldiers and rights groups have criticised Israel´s use of live fire.

In addition to the 17 Palestinians killed, more than 1,400 were wounded Friday, 757 of them by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, the health ministry in Gaza said. The armed wing of Hamas said five of those killed were its members who were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people".