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Photo:
Palestinians carry a man wounded during clashes with Israeli forces, outside a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 9, 2015. (AFP/File) published by Maan

File Photo: A Palestinian protester hurls stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes on the Israel-Gaza border, October 9, 2015. Credit: AP published by Haaretz
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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Friday afternoon shot dead two Palestinians during clashes near al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, medical sources said.

Doctors told Ma’an that 19-year-old Muhammad Abu Zayed had been shot in the head. His body was taken to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

Medics added that at least 10 other Palestinian youths had been shot and wounded by live fire during the clashes.

Hours later, a second Palestinian died after being shot in the stomach during clashes in the same area.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra identified the man as Muhammad Majdi Qaita, 26, from Khan Yunis. Qaita had been pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the spokesman added.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that "multiple riots" were taking place along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Friday.

The spokesperson said that that a number of Palestinians had "breached the buffer zone" and "damaged" the fence in the central Gaza Strip before Israeli forces "called on them to halt and fired warning shots into the air."

Shots were then fired directly at the demonstrators following the "threat of infiltration," the spokesperson said, adding that she was aware of reports of Friday's death but was unable to confirm that any Palestinians were hit.

The death comes two days after another Gazan was killed and three seriously wounded when Israeli artillery bombarded an alleged "terrorist cell" east of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.

At least 23 other Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli forces in clashes along the Gazan border since the beginning of October, according to the UN Agency for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip initially began demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem when unrest grew in the occupied area in October.
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Gili Cohen , Jack Khoury and The Associated Press
published by Haaretz

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire during clashes along the Gaza border on Friday, Palestinian media reported. 

The two were identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry as 18-year-old Mohammed Abu Ziad and 26-year-old Mohammed Majdi Abu Kita.

In the clashes, east of the Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Strip, at least 10 other youths were wounded in varying degrees of severity, Palestinian medical sources said. 

Israel's military said Palestinians rushed the border and tried to damage the fence. Soldiers called on them to stop and fired warning shots in the air. When they persisted, troops fired "at rioters posing a threat of infiltration."

Clashes erupted in the West Bank as well. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, five Palestinians were wounded by live and rubber bullets, and dozens suffered injuries from smoke and tear gas inhalation. 

On Wednesday morning, the Israel Air Force struck a cell that was planting explosives in the northern Gaza Strip, near the border fence, on Wednesday morning. Officials in Gaza reported that one person was killed and three were wounded in the attack.

In December, a Palestinian was reportedly shot dead in clashes near the Gaza border fence in the center of the Strip. He was identified as Sami Maadi, 38. In October, a Palestinian was killed and three others were wounded by IDF gunfire in clashes near the border fence. A senior Israeli officer said that the Gazan who was killed was a member of a sniper cell that was attacked by security forces.