UPDATE 10 - 55 Palestinians martyred by Israeli gunfire in Gaza

*UPDATES DEATH TOLL

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - At least 55 Palestinians were martyred by Israeli army gunfire on Monday -- and thousands more injured -- during anti-occupation rallies along the Gaza Strip’s eastern border, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“The death toll currently stands at 55 with over 2,770 injured,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement, adding that at least one child had been killed during the demonstrations that occurred .

One of those killed on Monday was Fadi Abu Salah, a disabled Palestinian activist who was severely injured during Israel’s 2008/2009 “Operation Cast Lead”.

According to al-Qidra, at least 39 Palestinians were “seriously injured” on Monday by intense cross-border fire by the Israeli army.

The spokesman went on to point out that as many as 13 journalists -- along with one medic -- had been wounded in the melee.

At one point, Israeli drones dropped teargas bombs on Palestinian demonstrators arrayed along the border, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Thousands of Palestinians gathered on the Gaza Strip’s eastern border since early Monday morning to take part in protests aimed to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Since the border rallies began on March 30, more than 90 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed by cross-border Israeli gunfire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The rallies are to culminate on Tuesday, May 15, the 70th anniversary of Israel's establishment -- an event Palestinians refer to as the "Nakba" or "the Catastrophe".

Last week, the Israeli government said the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law did not apply.