Thousands of Palestinians marched to Gaza’s border with Israel on Friday in the largest such demonstration in recent memory, and 15 were killed by Israeli fire on the first day of what Hamas organizers said will be six weeks of daily protests against a stifling border blockade.

It was the bloodiest day in Gaza since the 2014 cross-border war between Israel and Hamas.

Fourteen of the marchers were killed and more than 750 wounded by Israeli fire in clashes along the border fence, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Another Palestinian was killed earlier Friday.

The Israeli military said thousands of Palestinians threw stones and rolled burning tires toward troops deployed on the other side of the border fence. It accused militants of trying to carry out attacks under the cover of mass protests, saying that in one incident, Palestinian gunmen fired toward soldiers.

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A still frame taken from video material released on March 21, 2018 shows a combination image of what the Israeli military describes is before and after an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor on Sept 6, 2007. IDF/Handout via Reuters TV ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS IMAGE. FOR REUTERS CUSTOMERS ONLY.

The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time) it carried out the 2007 airstrike in Syria that destroyed what was believed to be a nuclear reactor, lifting the veil of secrecy over one of its most daring and mysterious operations in recent memory.

Although Israel was widely believed to have been behind the September 6, 2007, airstrike, it has never before commented publicly on it.

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Eduoard Philippe

PARIS (AP) — France’s government has presented a plan to better fight against racism and anti-Semitism, focusing on social media and prevention in schools.

Prime minister Edouard Philippe said Monday France will push for a Europe-wide effort to force internet giants to remove “heinous, racist and anti-Semitic” content.

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JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said Sunday it destroyed a tunnel built by the Hamas militant group.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the new tunnel was intended to connect to an old one that Israel partially destroyed in the southern Gaza Strip during the 2014 war, in what appears to be the first case of Hamas trying to “recycle” part of its devastated network

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Shin Bet security service says a Palestinian has stabbed an Israeli in Jerusalem, seriously wounding him. Police said he was shot dead by officers at the scene.

The attack Sunday occurred in Jerusalem’s Old City, home to sensitive holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

The Shin Bet said the attacker was from the West Bank city of Nablus.

There has been a spike in violence since President Donald Trump’s Dec. 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as their future capital and view Trump’s decision as siding with Israel.

On Friday, a Palestinian killed two Israeli soldiers and badly wounded two others when he drove his car into them in the West Bank.

Stabbings and car-ramming have been widely used by Palestinian assailants.

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PRINCETON, N.J. — Even as relations between the leaders of Israel and the United States reportedly deteriorate over disagreement about how to handle Iran’s nuclear program, Israel has retained its broadly favorable image in the U.S. over the past year. Seventy percent of Americans now view that country favorably, and 62% say they sympathize more with the Israelis than the Palestinians in the Mideast conflict. By contrast, 17% currently view the Palestinian Authority favorably, and 16% sympathize more with the Palestinians.

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Poland’s Coat of Arms

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish lawmakers have approved a new national holiday honoring the Poles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

The Senate voted Wednesday on the bill, initiated by President Andrzej, to make March 24 a national day of remembrance. It was approved 58-14 in the Senate with three abstentions, and now only requires Duda’s signature to become law.

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s government watchdog agency on Wednesday criticized the military’s so-called “Hannibal” directive that allowed troops to use heavy force when one of their own was abducted — even at the risk of killing the soldier.

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