A teenager was shot dead by the Israeli army during renewed clashes on the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Palestinian strip said.
Bilal Khafaja, 17, was shot in the chest during clashes east of Rafah in southern Gaza, the ministry said in a statement. Several thousand demonstrators approached the border in multiple locations Friday evening, AFP correspondents said, the latest in months of often violent demonstrations.
At least 45 people were injured by Israeli fire, the ministry said. East of Gaza City balloons with incendiary devices attached were again flown across the border, after being largely absent in recent weeks. The balloons have started hundreds of fires inside Israel, causing major damage to farming land. An Israeli plane fired at one group launching balloons Friday, the army said in a statement. East of Gaza City protesters used a net to capture an Israeli drone carrying tear gas cannisters, an AFP correspondent said.