Two dead in fourth Friday of Gaza protests

Palestinians in Gaza Strip are protesting for the fourth Friday in a row, as part of the Great March of Return movement.

Since the protests began on March 30, 37 Palestinians in the coastal enclave have been killed by Israeli forces, with more than 4,000 injured.

South Africa is our model

Asaad Abu Shariek, a spokesman for the 'Great March of Return' protest movement, said demonstrators were following a path laid down by South Africa during its struggle against apartheid.

"People are very enthusiastic to come and take part in the protests because they know without participating in this non-violent form of resistance they can't achieve their objective," Abu Shariek told Al Jazeera.

When asked whether the protests would lead to any tangible concessions by the Israelis, Abu Shariek said: "We are implanting an idea in the minds of people across the world that Palestinians have rights and they hope for the right of return.

"We want the world to impose a military embargo on Israel and the BDS strategy. South Africa used this method and they emerged victorious and I think we will be no exception."

Reporting from the protest site, Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith said the thousands of Palestinians in attendance were being subjected to a “barrage of tear gas from Israeli soldiers”.

"Thick black smoke has now filled the air as they try to obscure the view for Israeli soldiers," Smith said.

"This is a peaceful protest as it has been over the last few weeks.

"There will be more protests like this until May 15, the day the Palestinians call the Nakba that marked the founding of the state of Israel."

END