Israel kills Palestinian allegedly trying to breach Gaza border

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man armed with an axe who tried to breach the Gaza border fence on Monday, the Israeli army said.

An army statement said troops thwarted an "infiltration attempt" by "two terrorists who damaged the security fence and were armed with an axe".

Israeli soldiers "fired towards the terrorists, killing one of them," it added, without clarifying what happened to the second suspect.

There was no immediate confirmation from the health ministry in Gaza, and the slain Palestinian has not been named.

The death brings to 125 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since 30 March.

The vast majority have been killed during weeks of unarmed demonstrations along the border to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees and protest Israel's decade-old blockade.

Protests peaked on 14 May when at least 61 people were killed by Israeli soldiers as mass demonstrations coincided with the controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

On Friday a 21-year-old female medic was shot dead in southern Gaza.

No Israelis have been killed.