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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The militant group Hamas said demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel border fence have been scaled down to give diplomatic efforts a chance.
Only a few thousand Palestinians gathered at the border on Friday. Israeli gunfire has injured seven protesters, health officials said. The smallest number of victims reported since the beginning of the weekly demonstrations in March.
Khalil al-Hayya, a Hamas official, said his Islamic group "was putting to the test" Egypt's efforts to secure a ceasefire to lift an old Gaza blockade. 11 years old.
The more ferocious protests will resume if the blockade remains in place, warned al-Hayya.
Israel and Egypt have largely sealed their borders with Gaza after the takeover of Hamas in 2007, citing security concerns.
More than 160 Palestinians were killed during the demonstrations. A Palestinian sniper also shot an Israeli soldier in July.
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