STORY: Palestinians mourn for 5 killed in Gaza border blast
DATELINE: Sept. 14, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:54
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Palestinians mourning for 5 killed in Gaza border blast
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ISMAIL RUDWAN, Senior Hamas official
3. various of Palestinians mourning for 5 killed in Gaza border blast

STORYLINE:

Thousands of Gazans attended on Thursday a funeral for five young Palestinian men who died in a blast at the Israel-Gaza border.

On Wednesday, at least five Palestinians were killed in this blast, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said.

The explosion that took place during a mass demonstration of the Palestinians injured 25 others, it added.

Before the blast, there was a clash between dozens of Palestinian protestors and Israeli soldiers along the border fence, during which Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas bombs, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Israeli soldiers used dispersal measures after the Palestinians hurled explosive devices and grenades at the barrier, according to The Times of Israel.

Investigation is underway to find the cause of the explosion, but the IDF claimed an explosive device was placed by the Palestinian "rioters" during the demonstration in an attempt to hurt Israelis.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army denied the possibility that Israeli gunfire caused the explosion, saying that the device exploded on its own during an attempt to throw it.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ISMAIL RUDWAN, Senior Hamas official
"We emphasize that this battle will continue with the occupation until it is defeated, and we hold the occupation responsible for all the crimes it commits against the Palestinians. We affirm the unity of the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank and Gaza."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)