Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have used firing by Israeli forces on Palestinians, killing at least 16 and wounding more than 1,400, to declare that Israel’s “eradication” has been accelerated.

The Guards quickly seized an opportunity after the Palestinians were slain amid mass demonstrations in Gaza on the Israeli border. Videos showed the shooting of unarmed men and women.

“The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, as the Iranian nation’s powerful arm, will spare no effort to help the Muslim people of Palestine and will further activate its available capacities to restore Palestinians’ rights,” a statement declared.

The IRGC said stabiity and security for the “Israeli regime” is a fantasy which is “invalid and impossible”.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s comment:

The “Great March of Return” demonstrations were held on the 42nd anniversary of Land Day, marking the killing of six Palestinians by Israeli forces. The rallies are scheduled to culminate on May 15, known as Nakba Day to mark the displacement of Palestinians in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

The Israel Defense Forces had declared the border area a “closed military zone”. They said in a statement:

17,000 Palestinians are rioting in 5 locations along the Gaza Strip security fence. The rioters are rolling burning tires and hurling firebombs and rocks at the security fence and IDF troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators.

Late in the day, Israel’s military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an airstrike, claiming that soldiers on the border were fired upon.