Funeral held for Palestinian teenager killed by Israel

Hundreds of mourners marched through the streets of central Gaza Strip on Saturday carrying the body of 14-year-old Hassan Shalabi who was killed on Friday by Israeli troops in protests along the perimeter fence.

Shalabi's mother wailed as mourners brought his body on a stretcher for a final farewell at their home in the Nusseirat refugee camp.

"He was everything beautiful at home; his voice, his happiness fills the house. There is laughter and play when he is home," said the mother, Fatma, soon after the body was carried away, wrapped in a Palestinian flag.

Shalabi and Hamza Ishtiwi were standing 50-60 metres (160-200 feet) from the fence at separate protests when they were shot, according to rights group al-Mezan.

The health ministry put Ishtiwi's age at 18, but Mezan said he was 17.

UNICEF condemned the killing of the two Palestinians, warning of the significant violence Palestinian children endure.

Palestinians have for nearly a year gathered at least weekly along the Gaza border fence for often non-violent marches to demand an end to the Israeli siege on Gaza and the right for Palestinians to return to their homes lost since Israel's creation in 1948.

At least 248 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since then, the majority shot during clashes, though others have been hit by tank fire or airstrikes.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period.