GAZA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A 23-year-old Palestinian man died of wounds he sustained earlier on Friday after being shot by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in the eastern Gaza Strip.

Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Gaza Health Ministry, told reporters that the young man, identified as Ahmad al-Qarra from the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, died in hospital of critical wounds in the abdomen.

Al-Qarra was shot during protests, better known as the March of Return rally, east of the town close to the border with Israel, the spokesman said.

At least 56 Palestinians were injured on Friday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, al-Qedra said earlier.

The injured Palestinians include 22 children and three women, and the Israeli soldiers targeted an ambulance that belongs to the medical services.

The weekly rally is calling on Israel to end its tight blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas violently seized control of the coastal enclave in 2007.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Israeli army has killed 307 Palestinians and wounded more than 17,000 others since the outbreak of the rally.