Clashes break out between Palestinian protesters, Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza

Gaza, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Clashes broke out on Friday afternoon between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel as part of the one-year rallies, better known as "the Marches of Return."

During the weekly anti-Israel protests, protesters waved Palestinians flags, burned tires and threw stones at the soldiers stationed at the border, said eyewitnesses.

The Israeli soldiers fired dozens of tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and live gunshots at the demonstrators to keep them away from reaching the barbed wire of the border's fence.

Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza, told reporters that Israeli soldiers fired several tear gas canisters at a medical booth east of al-Bureij Refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.

Dozens suffered suffocation due to inhaling strong tear gas, he said, adding that dozens of else were shot and wounded by the Israeli soldiers' gunfire, including two young men were seriously injured.

Gaza Health Ministry officials said earlier that the Israeli army shot and killed more than 260 Palestinians and wounded 29,000 others.

The Highest Commission for the Marches of Return has been calling on Palestinian demonstrators to head to the eastern area of the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel for demonstrations, rallies, protests and clashes.

The Marches of Return won't stop until Israel ends 12 years of blockade which had been imposed on the coastal enclave since 2017, said the Islamic Hamas movement who rules the Gaza Strip.