Seven Palestinians, including two boys, were killed by Israeli military fire during clashes along the Gaza Strip's central and eastern sections of the border fence, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry identified the 12-year old as Yousef Abu Zarifa and said he was shot in the head east of Khan Younis. The 14-year old, Mohammad Naif Al-Houm, sustained a bullet to the chest near Al-Bureij refugee camp, the ministry said. The other fatalities were identified as Iyad Khalil Ahmad Ashar, 18, Mohammad Ali Anshasi, 18, Muhammad Bassem Shchasa, 24, Mohammed Ashraf Al-Awadah, 26, and Mohammad Walid Haniyeh, 33.

A total of 506 Palestinians were injured in the clashes, the ministry said, some 90 of whom by Israeli fire. Of those wounded, 210 have been evacuated to hospitals.

The Israeli army said it struck northern Gaza twice in response to grenades and explosives devices being thrown at soldiers stationed along the border fence, adding that one of the airstrikes targeted a Hamas outpost.

According to the IDF, Some 20,000 Palestinians demonstrated in various locations along the fence, with protesters burning tires and hurling grenades, explosive devices and stones at soldiers. The IDF said it responded with riot control measures in accordance with the open-fire policy.

Source: Haaretz.com

BDST: 1955 HRS, SEP 29, 2018
AP