Two people have died as tens of thousands of Palestinians rallied in the Gaza Strip on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of their mass protests along the Israeli border.
The territory's Hamas leaders largely restrained the crowds ahead of a hoped-for cease-fire deal.
Demonstrators largely kept their distance from the border, though small crowds of activists approached the perimeter fence and threw stones and explosives towards Israeli troops on the other side.
The forces responded with tear gas and opened fire, killing two Palestinians and wounding 64.
Hamas had pledged to keep the crowds a safe distance from the fence as Egyptian mediators were working to cement a deal that Hamas hopes will ease a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the crowded territory.
Dozens of volunteers in fluorescent vests were deployed to restrain demonstrators, and cool rainy weather also appeared to affect enthusiasm.
But as the crowds swelled throughout the afternoon in response to Hamas' calls for a large turnout, dozens of protesters approached the fence, unfurling Palestinian flags and throwing rocks and explosives toward Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli forces responded with tear gas and live fire.
The Israeli military estimated 40,000 Palestinians were gathered at the marches.
"The rioters are hurling rocks and setting tires on fire. In addition, a number of grenades and explosive devices have been hurled at the Gaza Strip security fence," it said in a statement.
Hamas officials say that Israel is offering a package of economic incentives in exchange for calm along the volatile border.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, said the group had received "positive signs" from the Egyptians.
He added that the Egyptian team was to return to Israel on Sunday to continue the talks.
"We will continue our marches until all our goals are achieved," he said.
Saturday's protest comes as Israel and Hamas, bitter enemies that have fought three wars and dozens of smaller skirmishes, both indicating a strong interest in keeping things quiet.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking his fourth consecutive term in April 9 elections, but is facing a serious challenge from a group of ex-army chiefs who have criticized what they say is his failed Gaza policy.
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With a lack of alternatives, Mr Netanyahu has been forced at times to rely on Hamas to maintain stability along Israel's volatile southern front.
In the final stretch of the campaign, Mr Netanyahu needs to keep the Israel-Gaza frontier quiet, without seeming to make concessions to Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu took heavy criticism this week for what was seen as a soft response to renewed rocket fire out of Gaza.
Hamas, meanwhile, faces growing unrest in Gaza as a result of worsening conditions after more than a decade of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
The two countries imposed the blockade in 2007 after Hamas, an Islamic militant group that seeks Israel's destruction, seized control of Gaza from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
The blockade has helped drive unemployment over 50 percent, led to chronic power outages and made it extremely difficult for Gazans to travel out of the territory.
Speaking on the group's Al-Aqsa TV station, Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, praised the protesters. "With this big turnout, our people say, `We want to live!"
The fence protests, which began exactly a year ago, have been aimed in large part at breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza, but haven't delivered major improvements.
Saturday's demonstrations were held at five rallying points along the border with Israel.