Nearly 353 people were injured as Egyptian security forces held back hundreds of protesters who attempted to enter a street leading to the Israeli embassy in Cairo, the Ministry of Health said on Monday. Meanwhile, security sources said the police and military managed to drive hundreds away from the embassy on Monday morning after the violent clashes. The sources added that police used tear gas and rubber bullets against the demonstrators, who responded with stones, trying to regain their position to continue their sit-in outside the embassy. Clashes lasted for several hours before police arrested about 50 people. Assistant Health Minister Adel al-Adawy told Al-Masry Al-Youm that 308 of the injured had received immediate treatment, while the rest were taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment. The majority of cases were suffocations due to tear gas. But a number of protesters said they were hurt by live ammunition. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported that a protester died after receiving a bullet to his head, but medical sources said he was alive and receiving treatment. The events developed after protesters gave army and police forces posted around the embassy a 30-minute deadline to lower the Israeli flag, threatening to break into the embassy. This threat was met with shots fired into the air and tear gas. The protest outside the Israeli embassy marked the 63rd anniversary of Israel's creation, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced to leave their homes. Translated from the Arabic Edition
