Gaza
© AP Photo / Tsafrir Abayov
As many as 55 Palestinians were wounded as a result of weekly Friday clashes with Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, Ashraf Qidra, spokesman for Gaza's Health Ministry, stated.

"Today, by 07:30 p.m. [04:30 GMT], 55 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were injured in clashes with the Israeli army at the eastern borders of the enclave, 29 of them were wounded by live bullets", Ashraf Qidra said.

Earlier, the ministry reported 30 victims.

The statement comes amid tensions on the border with Gaza spiked on 6 September after yet another one in the series of the March of Return protests. They were further fanned by Netanyahu's statement that he would like to extend the Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley if he wins the upcoming parliamentary election.

The Gaza Strip has been the site of massive waves of protests known as the Great March of Return for over a year. Palestinian protesters continue regular clashes with Israeli troops on the border, while Israel accuses Gaza of ongoing shelling. The most violent protests take place on Fridays.

For decades, Israel has been in conflict with Palestinians, who have been seeking diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.