A Palestinian rioter on the Israel-Gaza Strip border, May 4, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Ibraheem Abu Mustafa.

IDF troops fired tear gas and live rounds at Palestinian rioters thronging the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Friday as part of ongoing Hamas-orchestrated unrest.

Medics claimed 10 people were shot and wounded and 20 more treated for gas inhalation on the Palestinian side of the 25-mile (40-kilometer) border fence, where Gazans set up tent encampments on March 30 for what they call “The Great March of Return.”

At least 43 Palestinian rioters have been killed in the last month.

Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action only when rioters, some hurling stones and Molotov cocktails trying to lay explosives, come too close to the fence.

According to Israel, the riots have been organized by Hamas — the Islamist group that controls Gaza and is sworn to Israel‘s destruction — to provide cover for attacks, and that most of the dead were members of terror organizations.

Visiting the Middle East earlier this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lent his support to Israel‘s handling of the border riots.

“We do believe the Israelis have a right to defend themselves,” he said.