JERUSALEM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army thwarted an attempted shooting attack in northern Gaza Strip and struck three Hamas sites, said the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in a statement on Friday evening.
During the attack, two Palestinians approached the security fence and fired towards the IDF troops, said the Israeli army.
"In response, IDF troops immediately fired according to the rules of engagement, targeting the terrorists as well as targeting three nearby terror sites belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization with tank fire and IAF fighter jets," the army said.
No Israeli soldiers were hurt in the exchange, the IDF said.
The clashes left some 15 Palestinians killed and more than 1,400 wounded by the IDF gunfire in the clashes along the Israel-Gaza border on Friday, according to Palestinian sources.
In addition, IDF troops fired towards suspects who had infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip via the security fence, the IDF added.
The IDF said the shooting attack was "further proof that the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip use these violent riots in order to camouflage terror," and added that the IDF "will not allow the security fence to be turned into an area of terror."
"We are identifying attempts to carry out terror attacks under the camouflage of riots," said Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Commanding Officer of the Southern Command in the statement. "We urge citizens to stay away and warn the Hamas terror organization, which is responsible for the violent riots and everything taking places under its auspices."
The IDF estimated that about 30,000 Palestinians gathered throughout the Gaza Strip at the border to take part in the "Great March of Return." Palestinians burned tires and hurled stones at the security fence and at the IDF troops.
The Israeli army confirmed that they responded with riot dispersal means and fired towards "main instigators."
IDF officials estimated early Friday evening the violent clashes on the Gaza border will continue in the coming days, and that even after the great mass of rioters are dispersed, attempts will continue to sabotage the border fence and carry out attacks, the Israeli media reported.
The march, which began Friday on the occasion of the Land Day, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976, is scheduled to end on May 15.
