Israeli forces kill Palestinian boy and wound others during Gaza protest

Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian boy during a demonstration in the besieged Gaza Strip on Friday.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 15-year-old Yousef Said al-Daya, was shot in the chest east of Gaza City.

The ministry initially reported that the child had been killed, only to later note that medical staff had managed to revive him.

Ultimately, however, doctors did not succeed in saving Daya's life, as the ministry announced one hour later that the teenager had succumbed to his wounds.

At least 41 other demonstrators were reportedly wounded by live fire by 6:30pm local time (4:30pm GMT). A volunteer paramedic was also reportedly hit in the head by a tear gas canister, the ministry said.

Friday marked the 48th week of protests in Gaza as part of the Great March of Return.

Since 30 March, Palestinians have been gathering at several points near the fence separating Israel from Gaza to call for an end to the nearly 12-year-long Israeli blockade of the small Palestinian territory, and for the implementation of the right of return for refugees whose families were displaced during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.

More than 250 Palestinians have been killed and another 26,000 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza since the beginning of the march - with the majority of casualties occurring during protests.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during a botched Israeli special forces operation within the Gaza Strip.

Israel maintains a crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip which critics say amounts to collective punishment of the impoverished enclave's two million residents.

Egypt also upholds the siege, restricting movement in and out of Gaza on its border.