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by IMEMC News & Agencies

Israeli forces, on Friday, opened fire at Palestinians near the border north of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, witnesses told Ma'an News Agency.

Witnesses said forces opened fire at seven Palestinians who approached the fence north of Beit Lahiya; no injuries were reported.

An Israeli army spokesperson said that a group of Palestinians approached the border fence around 6:30 p.m. in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces then told the group to halt, and fired warning shots into the air, after which the "suspects retreated".

On Tuesday, Israeli forces shot and injured a member of Hamas' military wing in the southern Gaza Strip. One day before that, the Israeli army said it had arrested five Palestinians after they crossed the border fence and entered Israeli territory.

Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians near the border since the ceasefire agreement signed Aug. 26, 2014 that ended a devastating 50-day Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip.

In July alone, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights counted 27 incidents of shootings, incursions into the territory, and arrests.

This included 18 shootings on land and at sea that left nine Palestinians injured, PCHR reported.