Israeli forces have shot dead three Palestinians on Friday as thousands protested along the fence dividing the Gaza Strip and Israel. Among those killed was a 13-year-old boy. 126 protesters were wounded. Meanwhile, Israel is reinforcing its troops, and setting up additional Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries in Southern Israel in anticipation of a possible uptick in fighting between the two sides. Efforts to hammer out a long-term ceasefire are ongoing but as CGTN's Stephanie Freid reports, time for a peaceful resolution is running out.

The ongoing conflict on the Gaza-Israel border is stirring friction beyond Palestinian protesters and soldiers. Pro versus anti-Palestinian rights advocates are also at odds.

In the more than five months since Palestinians began protesting against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, at least 180 Palestinians have been killed and over 18,000 have been injured by Israeli army fire according to Gaza health officials. Thousands of acres of land in Israel have been torched by flammables that sailed across the border by Hamas supported demonstrators.

The standoff is escalating. Protesters are hurling grenades and explosives at soldiers - Israel is expanding troop presence in the area.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER "If Hamas thinks that as a consequence of this distress it can attack Israel, it will be making a very big mistake. Our response will be harsh, very harsh."

STEPHANIE FREID GAZA-ISRAEL BORDER "The distress he's referring to is hundreds of millions of dollars in aid cuts to Gaza already put in motion by the U.S. and pending on the part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas."

Abbas is trying to wrest control of Gaza from Hamas control by withholding funds - Israel and the international community warn: It's a dangerous gamble.

Israel and Hamas along with Egyptian officials are trying to arrive at a long-term ceasefire agreement but it isn't happening yet.

The World Bank reports the Gaza Strip's economy is in 'freefall'. The UN Relief and Works agency that is responsible for providing aid to Palestinians refugees says 80% of the Strip's residents depend on aid support for food and medicine.

If funding is not funneled into Gaza soon, border protests are likely to intensify leading Israel to respond with military action. STEPHANIE FREID, CGTN, ON THE GAZA-ISRAEL BORDER.