Israeli troops kill Palestinian 15-year-old boy in Gaza

A Palestinian teenager was shot dead by the Israeli army during protests on the Israel-Gaza border on Friday, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said.

The ministry spokesman said Maysara Abu Shaloof, 15, was "shot in the stomach by the (Israeli) occupation east of Jabalia," referring to a demonstration site in northern Gaza.

The ministry added that 30 other Palestinians were injured, without specifying how many were hit with live fire.

The weekly demonstrations, backed by Gaza's Hamas rulers, entered their second year this month.

At least 263 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the protests and clashes began a year ago.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period in Gaza-related violence.

Friday's protests were the first after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu appeared headed to form the next government following Israeli elections.

Egypt has brokered a deal to ease Israeli restrictions on Gaza, but the extent of facilitation is yet to be clear.

Israel claims its strong response is necessary to defend its borders and accuses Hamas of orchestrating violence there.

A February United Nations report accused Israeli soldiers of intentionally firing on civilians, saying it could amount to war crimes.

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