Israel Breaks Up Gaza Strip Demonstration

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has dispersed a demonstration of Palestinians who had marched to the Israeli border in the northern Gaza Strip.

It says troops fired tear gas to break up a crowd of around 300 who had entered the immediate border area, which it considers off limits.

Israel, which withdrew from Gaza in 2005, considers the Hamas-run territory to be a hostile entity. It has carried out two large military operations there in response to militant rocket attacks in recent years. The border area has been largely quiet since a weeklong Israeli military offensive last November.

Friday's demonstration marked the 13th anniversary of the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

Small demonstrations also took place in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.

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