5 Palestinians hurt by Israeli gunfire near buffer zone

At least five Palestinians were reportedly injured by Israeli army gunfire on Tuesday while taking part in ongoing rallies near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.

A Palestinian medical source told Anadolu Agency that the five had been injured by live ammunition east of the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

The source, preferring anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the injured had since been taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.

Demonstrators demand an end to Israel's 12-year Gaza blockade and the right to return to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.