Palestinian killed by Israeli air strike in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — A Palestinian was killed by an Israeli air strike on the Gaza border early on Thursday, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said, ahead of new protests on Friday.

The health ministry named the man as Mujahid Al Khudari, 23, saying he died in Gaza City's Shifa Hospital after being targeted by an Israeli strike near the border.

Israeli occupation forces said earlier that an aircraft had "targeted an armed terrorist adjacent to the security fence", referring to Khudari and without specifying if the strike was conducted by a drone or other aircraft.

It said the military would "not allow any harm to the security of Israeli civilians".

Separately on Thursday, the health ministry announced another man had died of wounds received last Friday when Israeli occupation forces killed over a dozen protestors and injured hundreds more during a demonstration calling for the right of return for Palestinian refugees. 

Shadi Al Kashif, 34, was shot in the head near the border in southern Gaza and had since been in critical condition, the ministry said.

The death brings the toll for Friday’s protests to 18 Palestinians killed, with two more killed since the border protest.

There have been no reports of Israelis injured.

Israel has faced calls for an independent investigation from the European Union and United Nations chief Antonio Guterres over last Friday’s violence, as well as criticism from human rights groups for the use of live fire by occupation forces.

Israel has rejected the calls, saying its soldiers opened fire “when necessary” to prevent “attempts to damage the border fence”. 

Palestinians say protesters were fired on while posing no threat to armed soldiers.

Thousands are expected to rally along the border again on Friday.