JERUSALEM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces fired at Palestinian protesters on Gaza's coast on Monday, injuring at least two, officials and local media reported.
Dozens of vessels joined the protest on the northern Gaza Strip's beach, burning floating tires, according to a statement issued by the Israeli military.
"Vessels departed the Gaza Strip harbor, and sailed toward Israel, starting a naval riot," a Israeli military spokesperson said in the statement.
Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinian demonstrators were gathering along the shore, burning tires and hurling rocks, the spokesperson said.
In response, Israeli soldiers fired warning shots in the air and near the vessels, and used riot dispersal means.
"No damage or injuries to IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops were reported," the spokesperson added.
Local media reported that at least two Palestinians were injured in the clashes.
The fishing boat protest was organized by the Palestinian Highest Commission for the March of Return and Defying the Israeli Siege.
It was the seventh sea procession since March 30, the first day of the ongoing Palestinian "Great March of Return" rally against Israel's 12-year crippling blockade and the U.S. embassy move to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem.
The violence in Gaza coincides with the two-day Jewish New Year, which started on Sunday evening, and the Islamic New Year due to arrive on Monday evening.
The Gaza Health Ministry said in an earlier statement that the Israeli army has killed 174 demonstrators and wounded more than 19,000 others since the beginning of the five-month anti-Israel rally.
Efforts of Egypt and the UN Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov have achieved no tangible progress yet in reaching a long-term cease-fire between Hamas-led factions in Gaza and Israel.
