EAST JERUSALEM, APR 13 (DNA) – Thousands of Palestinians staged a mass protest along Gaza’s sealed border with Israel, for a third consecutive on Friday.

Clashes erupted when protestors burnt Israeli flags and Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and live bullets from across the border fence injuring thirty Palestinians.

The marchers are protesting against Gaza blockade as well as asserting the right of return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel.

In all, 34 Palestinians were killed in the past two-week protests.

Gaza has endured a border blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas overran the territory in 2007.

Meanwhile, Jewish settlers set fire to the entrance of a mosque near the West Bank city of Nablus early today and spray-painted anti-Arab and anti-Muslim slogans.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemning the attack reiterated calls for international protection for the Palestinians and their holy sites.

Roughly 40,000 Jewish settlers live in and around Nablus in 39 different settlements and outposts, from which they stage attacks on local Palestinians and their property.