Israeli forces wound two Palestinians during Gaza protest

Israeli forces wounded two Palestinians on Friday during a protest attended by dozens of Palestinians near the fence cutting the besieged Gaza Strip off from the outside world. 

One of the Palestinians was seriously injured, The New Arab's Arabic sister service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported. 

The demonstration came in response to violations in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Israeli forces and settlers have killed almost 50 Palestinians so far this year. 

Dozens of young Palestinians took to the streets near the fence, east of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, a correspondent for Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported. 

They lit rubber tyres and launched balloons – some incendiary and others carrying photos of killed Palestinians – in the direction of nearby Israeli areas, witnesses said. 

Israel's army sent reinforcements and military vehicles with gas canisters towards the frontier area. 

The army targeted Palestinian protesters with gas canisters, as well as live and rubber bullets, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed's correspondent said. 

One of the protesters was hit by a bullet in the abdomen and is in a "serious" condition, medical sources said. 

Another youth was wounded by rubber bullets and taken to hospital for treatment, the sources said. 

It comes as the Israeli navy attacked fishermen's boats off the northern Gaza shore with machine guns and tear gas, though no injuries were reported. 

On Friday morning, Israeli soldiers stationed in eastern Gaza opened fire on farmers and shepherds who were working in the lands of the Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij camps, witnesses said. 

The Israeli violence in Gaza comes amid heightened tensions across all of Palestine, particularly in East Jerusalem and Jenin. 

On Monday, Israel bombed Gaza after a rocket was launched on Saturday from the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli military.