JERUSALEM – Clashes erupted as protesters gathered along the Gaza border onFriday a week after similar demonstrations led to violence in which Israeliforces killed 19 Palestinians, the bloodiest day since a 2014 war.

Palestinians burned tyres and threw stones at Israeli soldiers over theborder fence, who responded with tear gas and live fire, AFP journalistssaid.

One person appeared to have been shot east of Gaza City, an AFPphotographer at the scene said, but his condition was not immediately clear.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in locations near the border east of KhanYunis, in the south of the blockaded Palestinian enclave, and east of GazaCity.

The numbers were so far lower than last week, but more were expected in theafternoon after the main weekly Muslim prayers.

Mounds of tyres were set up which were to be lit on fire throughout the dayin what Gazan protesters want to be a smokescreen from Israeli snipers.

Israeli forces took up positions across a ridge on the other side of theborder and set up a giant fan about two metres high in an apparent bid topush away the smoke.

“I will be a martyr today. I will cross the border,” Ahmed Abu Ghali, 20,who held up his shirt to show his still seeping wound from last week thatrequired 40 stitches, said east of Khan Yunis.

“I was wounded last Friday but escaped yesterday from hospital.”

Israel’s military said in a statement that “hundreds of Palestinians havebeen rioting in five locations along the border with the Gaza Strip.”

It added that “troops are responding with riot dispersal means, and fire inaccordance with the rules of engagement.”

Israel has warned that its open-fire rules remain unchanged for Friday’sprotests, pledging to stop any damage to the fence and to preventinfiltrations or alleged attacks.

But it has faced mounting criticism over its use of live fire, and UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres called for restraint.

“I particularly urge Israel to exercise extreme caution with the use offorce in order to avoid casualties. Civilians must be able to exercisetheir right to demonstrate peacefully,” he said in a statement.

*’Calculated’*

Last Friday’s protest near the Gaza border was attended by tens ofthousands of Palestinians.

A smaller number strayed from the main protest and approached the heavilyfortified fence on the border with Israel.

Israel says troops opened fire only when necessary against those throwingstones and firebombs or rolling burning tyres at soldiers.

It said there were attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate Israel,while alleging there was also an attempted gun attack against soldiersalong the border.

It accuses Hamas, the party that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it hasfought three wars since 2008, of using the protests as cover to carry outviolence.

But the toll of those killed and wounded — more than 750 people wereinjured by gunfire, according to Gaza’s health ministry — has led tocriticism of Israel.

There were no Israeli casualties.

Palestinians say protesters were shot while posing no threat to soldiers,and unverified videos that have spread online have fuelled theiraccusations.

The videos include one appearing to show a man with a tyre shot whilerunning away from the fence.

Human Rights Watch has called the actions by the Israeli soldiers”calculated” and illegal.

Guterres and the European Union have called for an independentinvestigation, which Israel has outright rejected.