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GAZA (Ma'an) -- Five Palestinians were injured on Friday with live fire when clashes erupted with Israeli forces in border areas in the northern and eastern Gaza Strip.

Witnesses told Ma’an that two were injured with live fire near the Nahal Oz crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel east of al-Shujayyia. Medical sources said they were shot in the lower extremities.

Three others were also injured in clashes near the Beit Hanun crossing in northern Gaza Strip, according to witnesses.

An Israeli army spokesperson later told Ma'an that Israeli forces fired "warning shots" at Palestinians "attempting to damage the security fence." She confirmed that hits were made but had no further information.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip crowd near the borders with Israel every Friday to show solidarity with what Palestinians in besieged coastal enclave have termed the “Jerusalem Intifada” taking place in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Nearly 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since the unrest spread in October, the majority shot dead during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border.

More than 1,400 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli forces since the start of this year, the majority during clashes that broke out with the Israeli military during protests in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UN rights monitor to the occupied Palestinian territory Makarim Wibisono recently condemned excessive use of force used by Israeli military forces in the context of protests and urged the Israeli authorities to comply with international law regarding the use of force and firearms.

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