GAZA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinians were killed and 241 wounded Friday afternoon during clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian protesters close to the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said.

Ashraf al Qedra, health ministry spokesman in Gaza said that Sa'dai Akram Mu'amar, 26 years old, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers' gunfire east of Rafah town in southern Gaza.

He added that earlier, a second Palestinian called Kareem Abu Fatayer, 30 years old, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers' gunfire east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.

Al-Qedra added that 241 others were injured during the anti-Israel rallies in eastern Gaza Strip.

He said that since the beginning of the Great March of Return on March 30, the Israeli army has killed 171 Palestinians and wounded more than 17,000.

Eyewitnesses and local media reported that hundreds of angry young demonstrators approached the fence of the border in five different spots close to the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel.

Demonstrators burned tires, waved Palestinian flags and then they flew and released dozens of arson balloons and kites from the area into Israel, according to the reports, which added that some demonstrators cut parts of the barbed wife of the borders fence.