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Scene. Published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- An unidentified Palestinian “youth” was shot in the chest by Israeli forces with live ammunition near the Israeli-Gaza border on Friday, according to local sources.

According to locals in Gaza, Israeli forces stationed at military watchtowers on the border line east of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of Palestinian youths “as they approached the border fence,” causing the injury of one youth in his chest with a live bullet.

The injured youth was transferred to the Indonesian hospital in Beit Lahiya, where he was reportedly stabilized.

Sources added that Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters at the youths as well.

Clashes also erupted in several other areas of the Gaza Strip, with locals reporting clashes near the Nahal Oz military post near northern Gaza, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, and east of Khan Yunis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at Palestinians in all locations, according to locals.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that on Friday afternoon "violent riots" broke out in several areas along the Israel-Gaza border, where "tens of Palestinians rolled burning tires and threw rocks at the security fence and Israeli forces stationed at the border."

"In response to these riots, soldiers fired selectively to main instigators," the spokesperson said, adding that the army was "aware of reports" of one injury.

A 16-year-old Palestinian was killed in June by Israeli forces during clashes along the border east of the Bureij refugee camp during clashes that injured at least seven Palestinians, four of whom were injured with live ammunition.

Clashes typically erupt in the “buffer zone” along the Israeli-Gaza border on Fridays, between Palestinian youth who throw stones and Israeli forces who fire live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas, often resulting in serious, sometimes fatal, injuries.

The United Nations and numerous human rights groups have routinely condemned Israeli authorities for their use of excessive force against Palestinians during clashes, in incidents that did not warrant a violent response.