Dozens of Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire on Friday as thousands returned to the Gaza border for a sixth week of protests that have seen nearly 50 demonstrators killed. Medics treated 431 people with various injuries, including 98 wounded by live fire and rubber bullets, the Gaza health ministry said.
Black smoke billowed over a protest camp east of Gaza City where Palestinians burned tyres and flew kites, at least one carrying a Molotov cocktail intended to set fire to nearby Israeli fields.
After advancing toward the border fence, protesters would retreat as the Israeli army fired tear gas. A military spokeswoman said that some of the protesters threw stones at the Israeli forces. The army also said there was an attempt to "sabotage the security fence and to infiltrate into Israel".
It said the attempt was "thwarted" when soldiers arrived at the scene and the Palestinians involved returned to the Gaza Strip.
Forty-nine Palestinians have been killed since protests and clashes began along the Gaza border on March 30, and hundreds of others have been wounded by gunfire.
Crowds were smaller on Friday than in previous weeks, with Palestinians saying they expect a major protest on May 14, when the United States will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel says its soldiers only open fire when necessary to stop infiltrations, damage to the fence and attacks.
No Israelis have been hurt in the weeks of protests and the military has faced international criticism for its use of live ammunition.
Shifa Abu Qadous, 28, whose family is originally from Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv, was bringing water to protesters near the border fence.
Wearing a headscarf and a dust-mask hanging around her neck, she said she came to the protests every week.
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