Palestinian dies after Israel border clashes: Gaza ministry

GAZA CITY: A Palestinian teenager succumbed to his wounds on Monday three days after being shot by Israeli forces during clashes on the Gaza border, the health ministry in the coastal enclave said.

In a statement, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-qudra said Abdul Raouf Salha, 14, “died as a result of his injuries from (Israeli) occupation fire last Friday east of Jabalia” in the northern Gaza Strip.

At least 243 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since protests began in March

Palestinians have been taking part in often violent protests at least weekly since March along the Gaza-israel border.

The demonstrators are calling to be allowed to return to the homes their families fled or were expelled from in territory that is now inside Israel.

Israel accuses the strip’s Islamist rulers Hamas of orchestrating the protests and using them as cover for violence.

The Israeli army said Friday around 13,000 Palestinians had taken part in violent “riots” in multiple sites along the border.

It had not responded to a request for comment on the teenager’s death on Monday.

At least 243 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since protests began in March.

The majority have been killed during protests and clashes, though others have died in airstrikes or shelling.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during a botched special forces operation inside Gaza.