Israeli army: Unaware of Palestinian injuries in Gaza border clash

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was unaware of reported injuries among Palestinian protesters who clashed with troops near the border fence in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon. Palestinian medics said troops fired live rounds and tear gas during a clash with some 300 demonstrators who marched near the Nahal Oz border crossing to protest against Israel's razing of farmland for a buffer zone. Three protesters were moderately wounded in the incident and evacuated to a local hospital, said a spokesman for Hamas' Health Ministry. He did not detail the nature of the injuries. An IDF spokesman said troops were scrambled to confront dozens of Palestinians who approached the security fence with the apparent intent to sabotage it. According to the military's rules of engagement, the soldiers first used riot dispersal means and called on the group to leave the area. "Live rounds were fired at some of the instigators' legs when the calls were ignored. The soldiers did not identify hitting anyone," the spokesman told Xinhua. The Gaza Youth Coalition, which organized Friday's protest, said in a statement that Israel uprooted Palestinian farmers' citrus trees for the IDF-controlled buffer zone that runs along the border, and bans the importing and exporting of products. Civilians and vehicles are allowed access of up to 100 meters and 300 meters, respectively, from the fence for agricultural work.