A Palestinian was shot dead on Friday by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip on the fourth large-scale border march since March 30, medical sources said.
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesman for the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, said Ahmad Abu Aqel, 25, died of bullet wounds sustained east of Jabaliya, without providing further details. The Israeli army said it was looking into the incident.
Earlier Friday, Israeli military aircraft dropped leaflets urging Palestinians to stay away from the Gaza-Israel border fence and warning that they endanger their lives if they follow directives of Hamas organizers of the weekly protests there.
It was the first time leaflets were dropped in the recent round of violence.
In the past three weeks, 28 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli troops firing from across the border fence.
The military has said it is defending Israel's border and that its troops, including snipers, only target "instigators." It has also accused Hamas of using mass protests as a cover for attacks.
Israel has faced international criticism for its response to the mass marches. Rights groups have branded open-fire orders as unlawful, saying they effectively permit soldiers to use potentially lethal force against unarmed protesters.
The mass protest, dubbed “The Great March of Return” - evoking a longtime call for refugees to regain ancestral homes in what is now Israel is expected to culminate on May 15.
