GAZA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least one Palestinian was killed and six injured on Friday by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics said.
Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said that Karam Fayyad, 26, succumbed to his sustained critical injuries he had earlier Friday after he was shot by Israeli soldiers' gunfire east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.
Al-Qedra added that six Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire, including two who are in critical condition.
He said that dozens have suffered burns and suffocation after they inhaled the tear gas fired at them by the Israeli soldiers stationed on the border with eastern Gaza Strip.
Despite the rainy weather in eastern Gaza Strip, clashes broke out on Friday afternoon between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed on the border with eastern Gaza, according to local Gaza TV stations.
Paramedics said that the soldiers fired tear gas and live gunshots at the protesters who approached the fence of the border.
They said dozens suffered burns and suffocation after inhaling tear gas, adding that at least six were injured by the soldiers' gunfire. One of them is a 14-year-old boy who was shot in his head and he is now in serious condition.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli snipers are targeting the protesters with live gunshots and that the snipers target the upper parts of the protesters.
Friday's anti-Israel protests are the 40th Friday of protests that are part of the "Great March of Return" that broke out on March 30, according to the event's organizers.
Al-Qedra said that since the start of event, the Israeli army has killed 245 Palestinians and wounded more than 25,000, 40 percent of whom were shot by live gunshots.
Hamas leaders who have been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007 insisted that their protests will go on until Israel ends its 12-year-old blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
