GAZA/RAMALLAH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Monday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers at the Gaza border with Israel and the West Bank, Palestinian medics and eyewitnesses said.

The health ministry run by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said at least 12 Palestinians were injured by Israeli soldiers during protests at the border between the eastern Gaza Strip and Israel.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the borderline area, waving Palestinian flags, burning tires, chanting anti-Israel slogans, and throwing stones at the soldiers stationed at the borders.

They added that the soldiers fired dozens of teargas canisters to disperse the demonstrators and then live ammunition at the youths who approached the border fence.

The Israeli military also confirmed in a statement that "a number of hits were identified."

The protests were organized upon the call of several Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to mark the 54 anniversary of the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and in solidarity with Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

On the same day, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that at least 50 Palestinians were injured by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the village of Beita, southeast of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Since January, 33 people, most of them Israelis, have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians, and more than 200 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to official figures. Enditem

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