(JTA) — Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinians during riots near the fence that separates the Gaza Strip from Israel, Palestinian officials said.
The incident occurred last Friday afternoon during clashes near al-Breij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, medical sources told the Palestinian Maan news agency.
Doctors told Maan that Muhammad Abu Zayed, 19, had been shot in the head. Hours later, a second Palestinian, Muhammad Majdi Qaita, 26, died after being shot in the stomach during clashes in the same area.
Medics added that at least 10 other Palestinian youths had been shot and wounded with live fire during the clashes.
An Israeli army spokeswoman told Maan that “multiple riots” were taking place along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Friday.
The spokeswoman said a number of Palestinians had “breached the buffer zone” and “damaged” the fence in the central Gaza Strip before Israeli forces “called on them to halt and fired warning shots into the air.”
Shots were then fired directly at the demonstrators following the “threat of infiltration,” the spokeswoman said, adding that she was aware of reports of Friday’s death but was unable to confirm that any Palestinians were hit.
Separately, an Israeli soldier was wounded in clashes with Palestinian rioters on Friday near Ramallah, Army Radio reported.
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