GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least five Palestinians were wounded Tuesday night by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes at the maritime border between northern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said.

Ashraf al-Qedra, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman, told reporters that Israeli soldiers stationed at the border opened fire and wounded at least five Palestinians, two of whom were seriously injured.

He added that dozens of others suffered suffocation after inhaling tear gas fired by the soldiers. "Those injured by live gunshots were transferred to the hospitals, while others with light injuries and tear gas suffocation were treated by field paramedics," he said.

On Tuesday afternoon, clashes broke out in northern Gaza Strip near the maritime border with Israel, according to eyewitnesses, adding that around 2,000 demonstrators joined the protests.

The protests were part of anti-Israel weekly protests which began on last March 30 calling on Israel to end its blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Gaza Health Ministry officials said that since March 30, 2018, the Israeli army shot and killed more than 250 demonstrators and wounded around 26,000 others, around 40 percent of whom were injured by live ammunition.