The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces during protests in the Gaza Strip has risen to 10, while nearly 500 others were wounded by bullets, Palestinian officials said.
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The incident occurred on Friday when the Israeli army opened fire on protesters near the border with Israel.
Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al Qedra confirmed on Saturday that 10 people had died during the clashes, which also left 1354 people wounded, including 491 by ammunition and explosives. 33 of them were in a severe condition.
The wounded include more than 20 women and 80 children, according to Palestinian figures.
Among the dead was a video journalist, identified in Palestinian media as Yaser Murtaja.
According to the journalists' union, six reporters, including an epa photographer, were wounded during the protests, which began in the morning and grew increasingly violent throughout the day.
The so-called Great March of Return, convened in Gaza by Palestinian factions, started on March 30, with demonstrations, marches and sit-ins near the border with Israel.
Since then, 32 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has deployed snipers along the border fence and warned it would not allow anyone to cross or approach, or put the security of its citizens in danger.
On Friday, some 20,000 people in Gaza protested at the border, according to the Israeli army, which has accused some of them of "terrorist acts" such as launching explosives and incendiary objects, and damaging a security fence.
Australian Associated Press
