An explosive device was thrown Friday at Israeli troops along the Gaza border in the Strip’s north, the army said, as Palestinians took part in weekly clashes near the security fence.
The army said no soldiers were injured by the bomb.
It said some 1,600 Palestinians took part in riots at two locations along the border, where they threw rocks and burned tires. Numerous attempts were made to damage security infrastructure, the army said.
Troops used riot dispersal means and live fire in accordance with IDF regulations, it added.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said 86 people were injured. Most were treated for tear gas inhalation while some sustained gunshot wounds.
Also during the afternoon, several incendiary kites were flown into Israel from the Palestinian coastal enclave, sparking fires. Strong winds hampered efforts to douse the blazes, though all were eventually brought under control.
Friday’s clashes were part of the weekly “March of Return” protests that began on March 30. Israel says they are orchestrated by the Hamas terror group, which rules Gaza, and used as cover for attempted terror attacks and breaches of the border fence.
The violent demonstrations were meant to end on May 15, but Hamas leaders have said they want them to continue. Turnout at the past two weeks’ clashes has been far smaller than previous weeks.
Earlier, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said a Palestinian man shot in recent clashes died.
Yasser Habib, 24, was wounded several days ago east of Gaza City, the ministry said. It did not give details of exactly when he was shot.
According to the ministry’s figures, 115 Palestinians have died since the start of the weekly protests in March, which reached their peak on May 14 when 61 people died.
Hamas acknowledged 50 of those killed that day were its members, while Islamic Jihad said three of those killed belonged to the terror group.
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