A Palestinian rioter on the Israel-Gaza Strip border, Oct. 26, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Mohammed Salem.

Israeli forces shot and killed four Palestinians and wounded at least 50 during riots along the border with the Gaza Strip on Friday, Palestinian medical officials claimed.

The Israeli military responded with air strikes at three positions belonging to Hamas, the Islamist terror group that rules Gaza, an army statement said.

It said 16,000 Palestinians had gathered along the Gaza border and hurled grenades, firebombs and rocks at Israeli troops, who responded with “riot dispersal means” and live fire when required.

Palestinians have been demonstrating, often violently, along the border since March 30. Since then, 212 rioters have been killed by Israeli troops, according to Palestinian Health Ministry figures. An Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper in July.

Egyptian security officials have in the last two weeks been talking to Israeli leaders and officials from Hamas and other Gaza factions in an attempt to restore calm along the border.