The health ministry named the man as Mujahid al-Khudari, 23, saying he died in Gaza City's Shifa Hospital after being targeted by an Israeli strike near the border.

The Israeli army earlier said an aircraft had "targeted an armed terrorist adjacent to the security fence", without specifying if the strike was conducted by a drone or other aircraft.

It said the military would "not allow any harm to the security of Israeli civilians".

Separately Thursday, the health ministry announced another man had died of wounds received last Friday when a protest by tens of thousands on the Gaza border led to clashes with Israeli forces.

Shadi al-Kashif, 34, was shot in the head near the border in southern Gaza and had since been in critical condition, the ministry said.

The death brings the toll for Friday's clashes to 18 Palestinians killed, with two more killed since the border protest.

There have been no reports of Israelis injured.

Israel has faced calls for an independent investigation from the European Union and United Nations chief Antonio Guterres over last Friday's violence.

Israel has rejected the calls, saying its soldiers opened fire when necessary to prevent attacks, attempts to damage the fence and infiltrations.

Palestinians say protesters were fired on while posing no threat to soldiers.

Thousands are expected to rally along the border again on Friday.