Israel’s housing minister is planning to build a new settlement close to the blockaded Gaza Strip in relation to mass protests and the worst flare-up since a 2014 war.

Yoav Galant, who is also a Security Cabinet member, will submit plans on Sunday to build the settlement to house at least 500 families just seven kilometers from the Palestinian enclave, Israel Hayom reported.

Israel must stop approving new settlements in Gaza! It will only deepen the conflict, leading to many more civilian casualties

— Max Seefluth (@MaxSeefluth) June 3, 2018

Galant hopes the settlement will be set up near the religious Kibbutz Saad, which has been the target of numerous rocket attacks from Gaza.

The report comes after more than 120 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during protests along the border with Gaza.

On Saturday, thousands of Palestinians attended the funeral of a young female volunteer medic killed by Israeli fire on Gaza’s border.

??#Palestine || Palestinian mourners carry the body of 21 years old Razan al-Najjar during her funeral after she was shot dead by Israeli soldiers, in Khan Yunis on June 1, 2018. A young Palestinian woman was shot dead by Israeli soldiers near the #Gaza border fence . . تشيع جثمان الشهيدة رزان النجار في #غزة . ?? #IDN : Iring-iringan mengusung jasad Asy Syahidah relawan paramedis Razan An-Najjar, dalam upacara pemakamannya. Ia ditembak mati serdadu sniper Zionis, di Khan Younis Jumat, 1 Juni 2018. . ?? #TR : #Filistin : 1 Haziran 2018'de Han Yunus'ta işgalci israil askerleri tarafından vurularak #şehid edilmesinin ardından, Filistinliler, 21 yaşındaki Razan Najjar'ın cenazesinde, cansız bedenini taşıyor. #Gazze 'nin sınırlarının tel örgüleri yakınında işgalci israil askerleri tarafından vurularak sınır çiti yakınlarında vurularak şehid edilen Filistinli genç kız ..

A post shared by Eye On Palestine (@eye.on.palestine) on Jun 2, 2018 at 4:44am PDT

On Saturday evening, factions in the Palestinian enclave fired two projectiles at southern Israel, to which Israel responded with at least 3 air strikes in Gaza. No group in Gaza claimed responsibility for the projectile attacks, which came shortly after the funeral of Razan al-Najjar, 21, a volunteer with the Gaza health ministry, who was fatally shot in the chest near Khan Yunis on Friday.

#Israel Strikes 15 Military Targets in #Gaza (VIDEO) https://t.co/4gwlm5p2Dl @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/8rhnXMOsgA

— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) June 3, 2018

Israeli troops have killed over 120 Palestinians and more than 10,000 have been injured since mass demonstrations began on March 30.

No Israelis have been killed and only a few soldiers have suffered minor injuries.

Israel’s Premature Celebration: Gazans Crossed Fear Barrier | Ramzy Baroud @telesurenglish https://t.co/efrHZ9S1cK pic.twitter.com/13FlatLz5m

— Ramzy Baroud (@RamzyBaroud) May 23, 2018

The protests – dubbed “Great March of Return” – have centered on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, after they were expelled following the 1948 creation of Israel.

Protesters have also demonstrated against the crippling decade-long Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

(MEMO, PC, Social Media)