An IDF officer was moderately injured on Friday by a grenade that terrorists from Gaza threw at him during violent riots along the security fence.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that troops responded by firing towards the terrorists. A hit was identified.

The injured officer was evacuated for medical treatment at a hospital. His family has been notified.

Earlier on Friday, the IDF said that thousands of Palestinian Arabs had violently rioted along the Gaza border.

“The rioters hurled grenades, explosive devices, and firebombs, burned tires, and hurled rocks at the security fence and IDF troops,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

“No IDF injuries have been reported. IDF troops are responding with riot dispersal means and live fire in accordance with the rules of engagement. During the violent riots, the forces thwarted an attempt to break through the security fence and infiltrate Israel from northern Gaza,” it added in a statement.

“Hamas continues to send civilians to the security fence, endangering their lives by using them as a cover for terror acts. The IDF will not allow security infrastructure to be damaged, and will operate to prevent violent rioters and terrorists from doing so.”

Meanwhile, the Gazan health ministry claimed on Friday that a 15-year-old Palestinian Arab teenager was shot dead by Israeli soldiers during clashes near the Gaza border with Israel.

The teen was killed east of Gaza City, while 25 other Palestinians were wounded as protests along the frontier spilled over into clashes, ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qodra said, according to AFP.

Since March 30, Arabs have been holding weekly violent riots along the Gaza border and have been using kites and balloons with explosives attached in order to set fire to Israeli property.

The thousands of balloons and kites carrying incendiary and makeshift explosive devices have sparked hundreds of fires and caused millions of dollars in property damage inside Israel.

The so-called “March of the Return” protests have been openly encouraged by Gaza’s Hamas terrorist rulers.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)