A Palestinian 15-year-old boy who was said to have been killed in the Gaza Strip this week returned to his home safe and sound, it was reported Saturday.

Palestinian medical elements initially reported that Mohammed al-Farmawi was killed by IDF fire near Rafah. According to the report, the teen approached the border fence near the Badhania airport and apparently tried to cross over into Israeli territory.

The IDF denied the report and said that dozens of Palestinians held protests in several locations near the border fence area in the Strip. During one such protest soldiers fired towards several protestors' legs after they refused to leave the site, but without causing casualties.

The teen returned home on Friday after apparently trying to cross over into Egypt via a smuggling tunnel, where he was kept for several days. The Ma'an news agency reported that his family was overwhelmed with happiness at the news.

Palestinian sources said that the boy's alleged death might have been related to "internal affairs."

A source from the Palestinian Health Ministry said that they had received false reports from the field and had later declared that no body was found.