More than 30 Palestinians injured during violent Gaza beach protest

Thirty-two Palestinians have been wounded by Israeli fire during a mass protest along the beach near the Israeli frontier, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Protesters threw flaming tyres over the fence, while fishing boats hoisted Palestinian flags.

Israeli forces responded with tear gas and live fire.

The ruling Hamas militant group has been staging border protests for the past six months in the hope of easing a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade.

It has intensified the protests in recent weeks as Egyptian-mediated ceasefire efforts have faltered.

Over the weekend, Israel halted Qatari-donated fuel shipments to Gaza’s power plant in response to the escalated protests.

Since March, 155 Palestinians participating in or attending the protests were killed.

Israel says it is defending its border.

An Israeli soldier was fatally shot in July.