Health officials in the Gaza Strip say a Palestinian man was killed in an Israeli airstrike near the Gaza-Israel border on Thursday.
The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted an armed terrorist near the security fence in the northern part of the coastal territory. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed the man's death but did not immediately release his identity.
"The Israel Defense Forces will not allow Israelis' security to be compromised and will act against terrorists," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement Thursday.
The incident was the latest in a string of recent Palestinian attempts to breach the border fence between Israel and Gaza and infiltrate Israeli territory. A number of those attempting the breaches in recent weeks have been armed.
Meanwhile, after some 30,000 Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces along the border in a Hamas-orchestrated mass march last Friday, Israeli authorities are bracing for another round of clashes this coming Friday.
Hamas has said the border protests will continue every Friday until May 15, the 70th anniversary of Israel's establishment. Palestinians mourn the date "Nakba" ("Catastrophe") Day.
According to Palestinian sources, 21 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israel since Friday. Israeli authorities said protesters were shot after refusing to heed warnings not to approach the border or refusing to stop throwing rocks and firebombs at Israeli soldiers.
Hamas officials have told Israel Hayom that they expect some 30,000 people to arrive at this Friday's border demonstration as well.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday that the military will not change its tough response to the Hamas-led mass protests near the border, warning that those who approach the border are putting their lives at risk.
"I think the other side also understands that it is not worth its while to continue [rioting] and I want to caution them against continuing the provocation," Lieberman said on a visit to the border area.
"We have established clear ground rules and we do not intend to change them," he warned.
