GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces shot and injured three people in northern Gaza on Friday, a medical official said.

Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman of the Gaza health ministry, told Ma'an that three men aged 19-21 were shot by Israeli forces stationed in a military tower on the north eastern border with Gaza.

All three men were shot in their lower legs, he added.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said Palestinians hurled rocks and firebombs over the fence at army patrols in several locations and that militant gunfire damaged an army vehicle.

A military source said soldiers fired live rounds at the attackers.

Since the November ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces have shot and killed three people in the Gaza Strip and injured at least 40, amid numerous incursions into border areas of the coastal territory.

Reuters contributed to this report