An 18-year-old man was shot by Israeli soldiers on Friday and later died of his injuries, the Health Ministry in the Palestinian territory said yesterday.
His death came after three Palestinians were killed and about 40 injured the previous evening in the eastern part of the Strip, a densely populated area controlled by the Hamas movement.The mourners, estimated to be in the thousands, shouted slogans against Israel and called on fighters to avenge their killing. Israel said that about 9,000 Palestinians had gathered at different points on the border on Friday evening, the latest in the regular protests by Palestinians against a blockade of the territory enforced by Israel and Egypt.
They are also demanding that Tel Aviv let Palestinian refugees return to their family homes in Israel.
Some 240 Palestinians have died in the regular confrontations since they broke out in March.
The protesters on Friday set tyres on fire and threw explosives across the border fence, an Israeli military spokesman said.
Hamas has controlled the territory since 2007.
