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Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – A teenager was shot dead Friday by the Israeli army during fresh clashes on the Gaza border, the health ministry said in the Gaza Strip.
Bilal Khafaja, 17, was shot in the chest during clashes east of Rafah in southern Gaza, the ministry said in a statement.
Several thousand protesters approached the border Friday night, AFP correspondents said, the last months of often violent protests.
At least 45 people were injured by Israeli gunfire, the ministry said.
East of Gaza, city balloons with incendiary devices have crossed the border again, after being largely absent in recent weeks.
The balloons have unleashed hundreds of fires inside Israel, causing significant damage to agricultural land.
An Israeli plane fired on a group launching balloons on Friday, the army said in a statement.
In the east of Gaza City, protesters used a net to capture an Israeli drone carrying tear gas canisters, an AFP correspondent said.
Earlier Friday, a Palestinian died from his injuries, two months after being shot at during protests, the health ministry said.
Amjed Hamdouna, 19, was wounded on 14 July.
At least 174 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza since 30 March.
An Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper.
Protesters demand that Palestinian refugees be allowed to return to the homes they fled during the war surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948.
Israel accuses Islamist leaders in Gaza, Hamas, of manipulating the demonstrations and seeking to use them as cover for attacks.
The Jewish state closed this week the only people crossing Gaza with violent demonstrations that damaged the site.
He said he would reopen the passage next Thursday, provided the situation remains calm.
