GAZA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces along the border between Israel and Gaza Strip, Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry's spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a short statement that medical teams had evacuated the victim's body, whose identity is still unknown.

Earlier in the day, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said an Israeli plane targeted a Palestinian "vandal" near the border with northern Gaza Strip.

He added that Israeli army will not allow "terrorists' to threaten the security of Israeli citizens.

At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,200 others injured since last Friday, when a massive Palestinian protest was launched to mark the Palestinian Land Day along the border between Gaza and Israel.

The Friday rally was the start of a six-week long protest expected to reach its peak on May 15, the day Israel celebrates its establishment. But the Palestinians mark it as "Day of Catastrophe" because a large number of them have been forced to leave their homes.