Palestinians say Israeli troops fire on Gaza protesters

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Israeli forces opened fire during a demonstration in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing a Palestinian youth, the Palestinian health ministry said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said she had no knowledge of the incident, initially.

Ashraf Al-Qidra, a spokesman for Gaza's health ministry, said 15-year-old Moamen Ibrahim Abu Eyada was shot dead by Israeli soldiers at east of the town of Rafah, which lies at the southern end of the Gaza Strip and borders Egypt.

The border between Gaza and Israel has been the scene of weekly Palestinian demonstrations since March 30 and recently, protests have taken place late at night, as was the case on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said earlier that during the day there had been several incidents along the Gaza-Israel border "with the participation of hundreds of rioters" who rolled burning tires and hurled firebombs and rocks at soldiers. It said there were no Israeli casualties.

Palestinians carry a man wounded due to an Israeli intervention during the "Great March of Return" demonstration at the Israeli border in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on September 19, 2018. /VCG Photo

At least 182 Palestinians have been killed in the protests, according to Palestinian health officials.

The Israeli army says it is defending its border against rioting protesters who have sought to breach the fence and enter Israel.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders and has fought three wars there in the past decade against Hamas Islamist militants that control the territory.

With Egypt, Israel has imposed a blockade that the World Bank says has brought Gaza's economy to crisis, leaving its two million people with limited access to health care, clean water and electricity.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled since 2014.

(Cover photo: Palestinians run away after Israeli intervention during the "Great March of Return" demonstration at the Israeli border in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on September 19, 2018. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): Reuters