‘Palestinian killed by Israeli fire in border confrontation’

GAZA — A Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in fresh clashes on the Gaza border Monday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said.

Mohammed abu Abada, 27, was shot in the chest in protests along the border near Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, a health ministry spokesman told AFP.

An Israeli official said some 3,000 Palestinian "rioters and demonstrators" were gathered along the coast and border fence in the northern Gaza Strip.

According to him, they were burning tyres as well as hurling rocks and explosive devices toward troopers and at the fence between Israel and the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

"Troops are responding with riot dispersal means and firing in accordance with standard operating procedures," he said.

Dozens of Palestinian vessels had also left from Gaza towards Israel by sea "instigating a naval riot", according to him.

At least 218 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since months of protests began in late March.

The majority were shot during often violent protests along the border, though others were killed by aircraft or tank fire.

Israelis claim they were attempting to damage the fence and "were apparently involved in placing an improvised explosive device adjacent to it".

The protests are calling for Palestinians to be allowed to return to the lands they fled during the war surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948 and which are today inside Israeli territories.

Israeli officials say its actions are necessary to defend the border and stop infiltrations and attacks, which it accuses Hamas of seeking to orchestrate.

The Israelis have launched three onslaughts against Palestinians in Gaza and its ruling resistance group Hamas since 2008.