GAZA CITY: Two Palestinian died after being shot by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip Friday, the enclave’s Health Ministry said, the latest such incidents in more than two weeks of clashes and attacks.

Ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra said that Yehya Abdul Qadir Farhat, 22, died “after he was shot directly in the head by the military in clashes close to the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing” in northern Gaza.

Mahmud Homaida, 22, was confirmed dead later in the day in clashes along the border.

The ministry reported 98 others wounded, including those shot or exposed to tear gas.

In the West Bank, Palestinians torched a site in an incident that threatened to further inflame two weeks of deadly unrest.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, under pressure over recent comments that some have labelled incitement, quickly condemned the fire at Joseph’s Tomb, in the northern city of Nablus.

The Israeli military said it would make the repairs to allow visits to continue and “take all measures to bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice.”

The arson came as Palestinians called for a “Friday of revolution” against Israel, and police barred men under 40 from attending the main weekly prayers at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, seeking to keep young protesters away.

Outside the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, a Palestinian disguised as a news photographer stabbed and wounded a soldier before being shot dead.

Thirty-seven Palestinians have been killed, including alleged attackers, since an upsurge in violence began at the start of the month. Hundreds more have been wounded in clashes with Israeli forces.

Israeli security forces have deployed massively in Jerusalem after two weeks of Palestinian attacks in the city and across Israel. Beginning Sunday, some 300 soldiers will reinforce police.

Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators clashed with the Israeli military at different locations along the Gaza border after Hamas and Islamic Jihad called for protests.