国际英语新闻:Clashes break out between Palestinian protesters, Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza

GAZA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A new round of clashes broke out Friday afternoon between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, close to the border with Israel, according to eyewitnesses and local media reports.

The reports said the soldiers fired gunshots and tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators who gathered close to the border between the eastern Gaza Strip and Israel on the 15th Friday of rallies and protests.

The Palestinians have held mass protests every Friday, known as "the Great March of Return," since March 30.

Medics said one Palestinian was moderately wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in the clashes. The witnesses said it was a young woman who tried to put a burned tire close to the border's fence.

Hamas movement's spokesman Hazem Qassem said in an emailed statement that the popular acceptance of the calls to join the 15th Friday of the Great March of Return shows that the Palestinians are united to defy the siege.

On Friday, dozens of Palestinian demonstrators gathered in eastern Gaza, burned tires, waved Palestinian flags and clashed with the Israeli soldiers stationed at the borderline area between the coastal enclave and Israel.

Israeli and local Palestinian media reported that activists from Gaza released around 100 flaming kites and balloons flying from the eastern Gaza Strip into southern Israel, causing large fires to several agricultural fields in the area. No injuries were reported.

Since March 30, rallies, protests and demonstrations were held every Friday in five separate locations in the eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel.

Ashraf A-Qedra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza, told reporters that the death toll of the Palestinians since March 30 has grown up to 136, around half of whom were shot by live ammunition.