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AFP
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories
Palestinians protesting along the Gaza border have begun attaching Molotov cocktails to kites to fly over the fence into Israel in a new tactic as demonstrations entered their fourth week.
Gazans flew dozens of kites near the fence on Friday, including some carrying Molotov cocktails and carrying notes telling Israelis"there is no place for you in Palestine".
On the eve of Friday's protests, a group of young people worked with coloured paper and empty coke bottles under a tree in an olive orchard hundreds of metres from the Israeli border east of Gaza City.
Some carefully created 60-centimetre-long kites in the colours of the Palestinian flag. When completed, a metal wire was attached at the bottom linked to a liquid-filled bottle.
Three young men carried one kite dozens of metres towards the border before stopping to set the bottle alight. With the flame lit, they sent it into the air and cut the thread -- watching as it floated over the border and crashed, causing a small fire.
"We use the kites to send a message that we are capable of bothering the occupation,"said 16-year-old Abdullah.
Since March 30, tens of thousands have protested along the border in the blockaded enclave calling for Palestinian refugees to be able to return to their former lands in what is now Israel.
Regarding the kites, the army said"there were attempts to set fire to fields and damage the security infrastructures on the border by flying kites carrying Molotov cocktails and explosive devices."
It said it would not"allow damage to the security and fence infrastructures that protect Israeli citizens and will act against anyone who wishes to harm Israel's security."The protests are planned to last six weeks, but peak on Fridays.
Gazans have used stones, firebombs and fireworks during clashes, but have also employed tactics such as creating a smokescreen by burning tyres and Israeli flags.
Kites are now the latest, though they are small and unlikely to cause major damage. Protest organisers have officially labelled Friday's protest in support of"martyrs and prisoners,"but on social media some Palestinians have dubbed it the"Friday of Kites".
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21/04/2018
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