GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 Palestinian protesters were injured as clashes between dozens of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers flared on Saturday night in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel.

The clashes broke out when the Palestinian protesters from the unit of night confusion, part of the anti-Israel protests of the "Great March of Return," demonstrated close to the border with Israel.

Medical sources said the Israeli soldiers opened fire and wounded 15 Palestinians who were taken to hospitals for medical treatment. The sources said they were all shot by live gunfire and moderately wounded.

Earlier in the day, Palestinian activists, belonging to the unit of arson balloons, also part of the "Great March of Return," released dozens of arson balloons into Israel.

Israeli media reported that the arson balloons released from the Gaza Strip caused large fires at farms and agricultural fields in southern Israel.

Meanwhile, Palestinian security officials said that Israeli drones fired missiles at a group of Palestinian activists who were releasing arson balloons from eastern Jabalia town into Israel. No injuries were reported.

Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, told reporters that since the beginning of the marches of return on March 30, the Israeli army has killed 184 Palestinians and wounded more than 20,000.