Israeli soldiers shot dead a wheelchair-bound Palestinian protester with no legs on Friday.
Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh, 29, was shot in the head by a sniper during protests along the border east of Gaza City in the north of the Palestinian enclave, the Palestinian health ministry said. Another man was reportedly killed in similar circumstances.
Eight Palestinians have now died and scores hurt as protests over US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital enter their second week.
Having no legs did not stop Ibrahim Abu Thuraya from protesting Israel's oppression in Gaza today but an Israeli bullet to the head did. He was killed in Gaza today. pic.twitter.com/SyHxqiNY42
— Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) December 15, 2017
Jerusalem is regarded as a capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, making it the highly combustible centre of the decades-long Israeli-Arab conflict.
Thurayeh was taken to Shifa hospital, in Gaza.
Unverified reports from local media report that Thurayeh lost his legs during the 2014 Gaza war with Israel. Other reports suggest he lost his legs in a 2008 Israeli air strike on his home.
Images online show Thurayeh attempting to make a living despite his serious disability by washing cars.
I think it's important to understand that since Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh lost his legs in 2008, he persevered through all hardship and difficulties in order to make a living for himself and his family. He would go car washing. At traffic lights, junctions and car parks. pic.twitter.com/thAyNLYJNI
— Gary Spedding (@GarySpedding) December 16, 2017
He had taken part in several border skirmishes recently. A number of images on social media show him carrying a Palestinian flag.
It is believed that he was killed by a sniper.
"The fact he was killed today by ‘sniper’ bullets may mean to Palestinians that his murder was a perpetrated act and not an act of military or security necessity," Fadi Al-Qadi, a Middle East and human rights expert based in Jordan, told Newsweek.
Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Kidra said the two Palestinians in Gaza City were killed from gunshots to the head.
______________
Read more
[ Israel carries out airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza ]
[ Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and King Salman discuss US Jerusalem move ]
______________
The Israeli military said that about 3,500 Palestinians demonstrated near the Gaza border fence.
A spokesman for the Israel Defence Force said: "During the violent riots IDF soldiers fired selectively towards the main instigators."
Theresa May said she disagreed with the move and described Mr Trump’s actions as “unhelpful”.