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No Gaza inquiry, Israeli defence minister says

April 2, 2018 by  
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GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s defence minister rejected on Sunday calls for an inquiry into the killing of 15 Palestinians by the military during a Palestinian demonstration that turned violent on Friday at the Gaza-Israel border.

A Palestinian who was wounded at the Israel-Gaza border reacts at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City April 1, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Hamas, the dominant Palestinian group in Gaza, said five of the dead were members of its armed wing. Israel said eight of the 15 belonged to Hamas, designated a terrorist group by Israel and the West, and two others came from other militant factions.

A tense calm descended on Sunday on the border area, where hundreds of Palestinians, a fraction of the tens of thousands who initially turned out, remained in tent encampments along the fenced 65-km (40-mile) border.

Organisers expect many to come back on Friday, when schools and businesses are closed for the Muslim sabbath, and rejoin the planned six-week protest pressing for right of return for refugees and their descendents to what is now Israel.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the European Union’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, have called for an independent investigation into Friday’s bloodshed.

Pope Francis, in an apparent reference to the events in Gaza in his Easter address, called for “reconciliation for the Holy Land, also experiencing in these days the wounds of ongoing conflict that do not spare the defenceless.”

  • No Gaza inquiry, Israeli defence minister says

Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli defence minister, rejected criticism of Israel’s actions, saying soldiers along the Gaza frontier “deserve a medal” and did what was necessary to protect the border.

“As for a commission of inquiry – there won’t be one,” he told Israeli Army Radio.

The United States blocked a Kuwait-drafted U.N. Security Council statement on Saturday, diplomats said, that would have called for an independent investigation and urged restraint by all sides.

Palestinian who were wounded at the Israel-Gaza border lie on beds at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City April 1, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

WOUNDED

In a Gaza hospital on Sunday, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy hit by Israeli gunfire on Friday said that when he approached the border fence with others in the crowd, he thought he would be safe as long as he did not touch the barrier or throw stones.

Hundreds had ignored calls by protest organisers and by the Israeli military to stay away from the frontier. The military said some of those who were shot had fired at soldiers, rolled burning tyres and hurled rocks and fire bombs toward the border.

“I was just standing there when I felt something hit my leg and it pushed me to the ground,” the boy, Bashar Wahdan, told Reuters, estimating his distance from the fence at 30 metres (yards). The bullet cut through blood vessels and broke a bone.

At his bedside, Bashar’s father said he had no idea his son had gone to the protest.

The Israeli military accused Hamas of “cynically exploiting women and children” by sending them to the fence. A Hamas spokesman called the allegations “lies aimed at justifying the massacres”.

On Saturday, Israeli troops using live ammunition and rubber bullets shot and wounded about 70 Palestinians among demonstrators at the border, Palestinian officials said. Witnesses said stones were thrown at the soldiers.

Slideshow (6 Images)

Doctors at Gaza’s crowded Shifa hospital said they were running out of medicine and other supplies.

The protest is scheduled to culminate on May 15, when Palestinians mark the “Nakba” or “Catastrophe” when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven out of their homes in 1948, when the state of Israel was created. Israel has long ruled out any right of return, fearing it would lose its Jewish majority.

Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Maayan Lubell and Mark Potter

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Warriors’ McCaw injured in scary fall as team beats Kings

April 1, 2018 by  
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a silenced arena, two teams gathered together under the basket to pray for Patrick McCaw as Golden State’s second-year guard was rushed away on a stretcher.

Basketball suddenly came second.

McCaw left late in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 112-96 win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night after a scary landing following an undercut by Vince Carter that appeared unintentional.

For a night, the Warriors — already banged up and missing key faces such as Stephen Curry — weren’t focused on their other injuries, seeding in the West or defending the NBA title.

“Basketball’s cool but when it’s something that affects everyday life it’s tough to watch,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said.

Golden State Warriors guard Patrick McCaw, right, falls to the court following a Flagrant 1 foul by Sacramento Kings’s Vince Carter in an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 31, 2018, in Sacramento, Calif. McCaw was taken off the court on a stretcher. The Warriors won 112-96. (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press)

“Obviously everyone’s worried. There’s not really much we can do in that situation.”

McCaw was transported to UC Davis Medical Center for further evaluation, the team said.

He drove the baseline and went down with a thud with 41.8 seconds left in the quarter, hit in the lower body by Carter. McCaw lay still and in agony for about 10 minutes as the crowd quieted.

Carter, who was given a Flagrant-1 foul, knelt nearby as medical personnel from both teams along with Warriors coach Steve Kerr rushed out to the baseline beneath Golden State’s basket.

“Vince felt awful and Pat was in extreme pain,” Kerr said. “Everybody felt bad. All we can do is just hope we get a positive response from the hospital.”

Players for both teams eventually came to the floor as McCaw was placed on a stretcher and wheeled away with his neck stabilized. McCaw, who appeared to be trying to dunk, did a scissor kick in the air over Carter’s right shoulder before landing hard on his troublesome back.

Kerr swore and was visibly frustrated and hollered “He knows better,” referring to Carter, before going out to the court to check on McCaw. Carter, who approached the Golden State bench after the game to apologize, got close to McCaw and offered some words just before the stretcher was pulled away.

“He felt bad about the situation and whatever happened,” Warriors center Zaza Pachulia said. “You could tell from his reaction and the expression from his face. Class guy. Obviously it was a freak accident.”

Golden State star Kevin Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in his first full game back from a rib injury. Durant returned Thursday night against Milwaukee but got ejected just before halftime for using vulgarities.

Klay Thompson played Saturday following an eight-game absence with a broken right thumb and contributed 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting as the defending champions snapped a rare three-game losing streak.

Everything appeared peaceful outside Golden 1 Center, where police on horses and officers in riot gear surrounded the arena hours before tipoff. Protesters have joined hands at recent games following the shooting death by police of unarmed black man Stephon Clark on March 18.

Earlier Saturday, former Kings star and Sacramento native Matt Barnes organized a rally and pledged to create a scholarship fund for the children of black men killed by police.

Kerr found himself on the defensive before the game for not attending the rally after he pledged his organization’s support to Clark’s family and the community.

“I’m coaching the Warriors tonight and we’re kind of busy today,” Kerr said before adding, “I think you guys know our team, we’re very socially aware and active and we’ve got a lot of players who do a lot of good in the community and who care about what’s going on. And we all care about what’s happening here and we’re very compassionate first and foremost to the Clark family but also to the community. We support the protests. Everybody in our organization wants to see a change and wants to see justice.”

De’Aaron Fox had 15 points and eight assists and reserve Buddy Hield scored 19 in the Kings’ fourth straight loss.

After taking an elbow, Golden State’s Shaun Livingston grabbed a driving Skal Labissiere with 4:40 left in the second quarter and tempers flared. Officials went to replay review and Livingston received a Flagrant 1.

TIP-INS

Warriors: F Omri Casspi missed playing against his former team, sitting out a seventh straight game with a sprained right ankle. … Golden State won both meetings in Sacramento but lost twice to the Kings at home. … The Warriors haven’t lost four straight since Feb. 26-March 2, 2013.

Kings: Sacramento was trying to become the first Western Conference team since 2014-15 to beat Golden State three times in the same season. … Sacramento signed F Nigel Hayes.

ANOTHER MARK

Golden State won 55 games for the fourth straight season, the 15th time it has happened in NBA history and first since the Spurs did so five consecutive times from 2012-2017.

WELTS TO HALL OF FAME

Warriors chief operating officer Rick Welts was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, part of a 13-person class that also includes player development consultant and former MVP Steve Nash.

UP NEXT

Warriors: Host Phoenix on Sunday night, their second-to-last time playing on consecutive nights. The Warriors have beaten the Suns 13 straight times, 12 in a row at home.

Kings: At the Lakers on Sunday to open a stretch of four road games before ending the season at home against Houston.

___

More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

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