JERUSALEM – Palestinian was killed in clashes with Israeli forces incentral Gaza on Friday, the health ministry in the strip said, bringing theday’s death toll to five.

The ministry did not name the man but said he was shot dead on the bordereast of al-Bureij in central Gaza.

Some 408 people had been taken to hospitals and medical centers fortreatment, the ministry added.

The latest killings by Israeli troops happened during the second massprotest in a week along Gaza’s volatile border, as Palestinians torchedpiles of tires to create a smoke screen to block the view of snipers.

Friday’s deaths brought to 26 the number of Palestinians killed by Israelifire over the past week, including 19 protesters. Gaza health officialssaid 150 people were hospitalized Friday, but did not provide details oninjuries.

Hundreds of Palestinians have already arrived at the border area on Friday,the Muslim day of rest, for what is expected to be the largestdemonstration since the first day when most of the fatalities occurred.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians are holding a six-week-long protest intent encampments along the fenced border of the Israeli-blockaded GazaStrip, an enclave of 2 million ruled by the Islamist Hamas group.