Two Palestinians, including a well-known journalist, have died after being shot by Israeli troops during border clashes, the health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Saturday, bringing the total killed in the latest violence to nine.
In addition to the nine dead, at least 491 were wounded by Israeli gunfire, it said.
Thousands of protesters approached the border fence around the Gaza Strip for a second Friday in a row, burning tires and hurling stones at Israeli forces, who responded with tear gas and live ammunition.
Among those killed at Friday's protest was Yasser Murtaja, a photographer with the Gaza-based Ain Media agency, who died from his wounds after being shot, the local health ministry said Saturday.
Witnesses said he was close to the front of the protests in Southern Gaza when he was hit in an exposed area just below the armpit.
An AFP photograph taken after he was wounded showed Murtaja, who was laid to rest on Saturday, wearing a press vest as he received treatment.
The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate said five other journalists were also shot during the protests, insisting they were wearing outfits clearly identifying them as members of the press.
The syndicate held Israel "fully accountable for this crime."
The Gaza health ministry also announced Saturday the death of another man, 20-year-old Hamza Abdel Aal, saying he was shot east of Al-Bureij in central Gaza.
Weeks of border protests have been called to demand the return of Palestinians to land they were forced from or fled after the founding of Israel 70 years ago.
Israel has rebuffed international calls for a probe into last Friday's killings.
UN chief Antonio Guterres urged it to "exercise extreme caution with the use of force" ahead of the latest clashes.
The Israeli army said its troops opened fire on Friday "in accordance with the rules of engagement".
The military said "attempts were made to infiltrate into Israel under the cover of a smokescreen.”
