Israeli forces teargas Palestinians east of Gaza

At least 20 Palestinians suffered gas inhalation on Friday following clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers east of Gaza City.

Eyewitnesses said Israeli soldiers fired teargas after clashing with Palestinian protesters near the Nahel Oz crossing point.

Eight journalists, including three from Anadolu Agency, were among those injured.

Palestinian protesters hurled stones at Israeli forces and set tires ablaze.

The clashes come on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, triggered by a visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque by right-wing Israeli politician Ariel Sharon in 2000. Thousands of Palestinians were killed and injured duriing the period.

Palestinian groups have called for rallies following the weekly Friday prayer to denounce repeated Israeli violations of the Aqsa Mosque, located in the city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and considered a holy site by both Muslims and Jews.

In recent weeks, groups of extremist Jewish settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, have been entering the Aqsa Mosque complex on an almost daily basis.

The frequent violations distress Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent confrontations.

Jews refer to Al-Aqsa as the "Temple Mount," claiming the area was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.