Palestinian killed by Israeli fire on Gaza border

A Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire during protests along the Gaza Strip border on Thursday, the health ministry in the coastal enclave said.

A ministry spokesman said the man, whom he did not name, was shot by Israeli forces during low-level violence east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Quds News Network on Twitter said the victim was 20-year-old Mohammad Abusharbin.

The Israeli army said it was looking into the incident.

At least 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since major protests backed by Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas began in March.

The majority have been shot during protests, but others have died due to Israeli tank fire or air strikes.

One Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper.

The often violent demonstrations are usually largest on Fridays, but last week's was the calmest in months amid talk of a truce deal between Hamas and Israel.

Such a deal would see the protests end in exchange for an easing of Israel's crippling blockade of the coastal enclave.