JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Friday ordered an immediate halt to the fuel transfer to the Gaza Strip following violent clashes near the borders.
"Israel will not tolerate a situation in which fuel tankers are allowed into Gaza on one hand, and on the other hand terrorism and violence are being used against Israeli soldiers and civilians," the minister said in a statement released by his office.
Some 15,000 Palestinians participated in the demonstrations held in several places along the Israel-Gaza border fence on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
The Palestinian protesters burned tires and hurled rocks, explosive devices, firebombs and grenades at Israeli troops stationed near the fence. The troops responded with riot dispersal means and gun fire.
During the clashes, three Palestinians who crossed the fence and approached an Israeli army post were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers.
The IDF said that Palestinian assailants made a hole in the fence using an explosive device, and 20 of them crossed into the Israeli side.
After warning shots fired by the Israeli troops, most of the Palestinian assailants returned to the Palestinian side, but several others kept advancing towards a military post before they were shot dead by Israeli soldiers.
Other Palestinians managed to drag the three bodies back into the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media reports said a total of seven Palestinian demonstrators were killed during Friday's riots.
