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A Palestinian is evacuated after being injured by a tear gas canister during clashes with Israeli security forces near the Nahal Oz border crossing with Israel. (AFP/Mahmud Hams/File)
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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces shot and critically injured an elderly Palestinian woman in the neck on Wednesday near al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, a spokesperson for the Gaza-based Ministry of Health said.

The ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qidra, told Ma'an that an elderly woman was hit with a live bullet in her neck and was evacuated to Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in critical condition.

Though clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli forces have been common in area east of al-Bureij camp, it is unclear whether the woman was shot during such clashes.

An Israeli army spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment.

Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 23, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented that 10,346 Palestinians and at least 160 Israelis have been injured during the recent spout of upheaval in occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.

At least 18 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military forces since Oct. 1 after Israeli forces have opened fire at demonstrators in Gaza.

A pregnant woman and her two-year-old daughter were also killed when an Israeli airstrike caused their home to collapse in southern Gaza City on Oct. 11.