EU calls for investigation after four killed in Gaza protests

The EU appealed to the Israeli army to refrain from using force against unarmed protesters and called for a full investigation on Saturday after four Palestinians were killed in the latest wave of protests in the Gaza Strip.

"As we once again mourn the loss of lives, the EU calls on the Israel Defence Forces to refrain from using lethal force against unarmed protestors," a spokesperson for the bloc's foreign policy chief said in a statement.

"As stated repeatedly, the priority now must be to avoid any further escalation of violence and loss of life," the statement said, as well as calling for a "full investigation ... to understand what happened and why."

On Friday, four people, including a disabled man and a 15-year-old, were killed during clashes with Israeli forces near the Gaza border.

They had been taking part in a fourth consecutive Friday protest, along with thousands of others in several locations - though the numbers were reported to be lower than in previous protests.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says dozens of Palestinians have been killed during the demonstrations, which are demanding the right of refugees displaced during the 1948 Israeli-Arab war to return to their homes in what is now Israel.