GAZA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least five Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in clashes which broke out on Friday with Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip, medics said.
Ashraf al-Qedra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza, said in a press statement that Ahmad al-Taweel, 27 years old, Mohamed Ismail, 29, and two others whose identities are currently unknown were shot dead by Israeli soldiers' gunfire east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
He added that a fifth Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli soldiers' gunfire, east of Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel.
Al-Qedra added that another 38 Palestinians were injured in the 29th Friday of the "Great March of Return" which began on March 30.
On Friday, thousands of Palestinian protesters demonstrated close to the border, and burned tries, waved Palestinian flags, chanted anti-Israel slogans, released dozens of arson balloons into Israel, cut the barbed wire of the border's fence and clashes with soldiers, eyewitnesses said.
The witnesses said that Israeli soldiers stationed on the border fired tear gas and opened live gunshots at the protesters who cut the barbed wire of the fence east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
Al-Qedra said that since the "Great March of Return" started, the Israeli army had killed 203 Palestinians and wounded more than 21,000, at least half of whom were injured by live gunshots.
