3 killed, 248 injured in Israel-Gaza border clashes
Jerusalem, Sep 15 : At least three Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured on Friday afternoon during clashes with Israeli soldiers on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said that three Palestinians were shot dead and hundreds injured by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in various areas in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel.
He said that 120 of the 248 injured were referred to hospitals for treatment. Eighty of them were shot by live bullets. Two of them are voluntary paramedics.
On Friday afternoon, hundreds of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip arrived at five different spots in the eastern area of the coastal enclave, close to the border with Israel as part of their participation of the 25th Friday of the "Great March of Return", Xinhua reported.
They waved Palestinian flags, burned tires and chanted slogans against Israel. Some of the demonstrators released dozens of arson balloons into Israel.
Local media reported that around eight protesters managed to cut the barbed wire of the fence on the border in southern Gaza Strip, and infiltrated into Israel for a short while and then returned into Gaza.
An Israeli army spokesman confirmed in a press statement that around 13,000 Palestinians joined Friday's protests in eastern Gaza, adding that its tanks targeted military facilities belonging to Hamas in eastern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli media reported that Palestinian activists threw three fire bombs at an Israeli army force stationed at the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, adding that dozens of arson balloons were released from Gaza into Israel, causing large fires.
Abdulatif al-Qanou'a, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a statement that the "Great March of Return" rally will continue until it achieves its goals.
"We will use all means and instrument to break the siege," said Sami Abu Zuhri, another spokesman for Hamas.
The anti-Israel rally, which began on March 30 and has been going on every Friday, has so far left 177 Palestinians killed and more than 19,000 others wounded, Al-Qedra said.
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Florida State University shooting leaves two dead; Suspect identified as Deputy Sheriff’s son
Tallahassee: A tragic shooting incident at Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday left two people dead and five others injured, prompting a major police response and lockdown across the campus. Authorities have identified the alleged shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at FSU and the son of a longtime Leon County deputy sheriff.
According to law enforcement officials, Ikner used his mother’s former service weapon during the shooting. The firearm was issued to her during her time with the department. Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner had participated in the Sheriff’s Office training programs in the past, which may have given him familiarity with handling firearms.
The shooting began around midday near the student union, one of the busiest areas on campus. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and described scenes of panic as students fled the area. One student, identified as Wayne, told local outlet WCTV that “everyone just started running out of the student union. We heard about eight to 10 gunshots.”
In video footage aired by CNN, Ikner was seen walking across a campus lawn, firing at fleeing individuals. Authorities responded quickly, and the suspect was shot by police before being taken into custody. He is currently being treated at a hospital, and his condition has not been disclosed.
FSU President Richard McCullough expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “This is a tragic day for Florida State University. We’re absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today,” he said in a statement. All classes were cancelled for the day, and students were advised to stay off campus.
The university, which has a student population of over 40,000, immediately went into lockdown, with shelter-in-place orders issued as emergency responders secured the area. Students shared videos on social media showing evacuations and armed officers patrolling the grounds.
Among those injured were individuals not affiliated with FSU. Authorities confirmed the two fatalities were not FSU students but declined to release their identities pending family notification.
One student, Sam Swartz, who was in the basement of the student union when the incident occurred, recalled barricading himself and others using trash cans and plywood. “Everyone started freaking out. I remember learning to do the best you can to make them take time,” he told the Tallahassee Democrat.
U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the shooting, calling it "a shame" while reiterating his stance in support of the Second Amendment. “These are awful things, but the gun doesn't shoot; the people do,” he said.
