TWO unarmed Palestinian teenagers shot dead by Israeli soldiers on Friday as they opened fire on protesters in Gaza were named today as 14-year-old Hassan Shalabi and 18-year-old Hamza Ishtiwi.

Hassan was shot in the chest at a protest in southern Gaza and Mr Ishtiwi was shot in the neck at a protest in east Gaza City.

They had joined the latest Great March of Return protests which saw thousands gather at five separate locations along Israel’s illegally erected border fence.

Protests have taken place weekly since March last year as Palestinians demand the right to return to land stolen from them after they were driven out when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

At least 168 Palestinians have been killed and more than 17,000 injured as Israeli snipers have fired on peaceful demonstrations, with medics and journalists among those targeted.

Israel claimed that the latest killings occurred after rocks were hurled at soldiers, with a military spokesman saying they opened fire “in accordance with standard operating procedures.”