A Palestinian man managed to breach the Gaza border fence on Friday and infiltrate several hundred meters into Israel, setting on fire a greenhouse in one of the communities near the border before being caught, the army said.

The man was not armed and was taken for interrogation by the Shin Bet Security service.

The IDF initially believed that the greenhouse, in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council area, was set on fire by a flare fired by soldiers looking for the man; however, he told his interrogators that he had set the fire.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

The army was investigating how the man managed to evade IDF patrols and get so close to an Israeli community. Details of the incident were barred from publication by the IDF censor until he was caught.

The incident came during protests along the border in which some 12,000 Gazans participated.

Reports said Palestinians also threw several explosive devices at IDF soldiers and two men tried to breach the border before retreating. The army responded with tear gas and riot dispersal means. At least one Palestinian was killed and 37 Palestinians wounded, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said.