Palestinian protester shot dead by Israeli troops at Gaza demonstration

A 20-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers at a demonstration on the Gaza border on Friday, the health ministry of the besieged territory said.

Sahar Othman was shot in the chest at a protest near Rafah in southern Gaza, the ministry said in a statement.

He had taken part in a Great Return March demonstration, held every Friday at various points along the Gaza border with Israel since March 2018.

They demand an end to Israel's crippling blockade of Gaza and allow Palestinians to return to their homes they were forced to flee following the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948.

Thirty-two Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire in Friday's demonstrations, the ministry said.

An Israeli military spokesman said around 7,000 "rioters and demonstrators" had gathered on the Gaza border, accusing them of "hurling rocks and explosives" at Israeli troops.

At least 309 Palestinian have been killed by Israeli troops at demonstrations on the Gaza border.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars in and around Gaza since 2008.