Israeli Gunfire Wounds Gazans at Border Fence

Israeli soldiers shot and moderately wounded two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Friday as they approached the security fence on the border with the Jewish state, the Hamas-run health ministry said.

Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told Agence France Presse the incident took place east of Jabaliya, which is in northern Gaza.

The army spoke of only one hit.

"Ten Palestinians rioted adjacent to the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. One instigator attempted to climb over the security fence," a spokesman said.

"After he failed to comply with the soldiers' calls to stop, the soldiers fired towards his legs, identifying a hit."

Clashes are common on Fridays, with regular protests near the border in support of Gaza farmers who say troops uprooted their trees to create a buffer zone.

Earlier Friday, the army said it had uncovered a new tunnel from Gaza reaching into the Jewish state, which it said was designed for carrying out a "terrorist attack."

Hamas said the tunnel was old and had been exposed by storms.