At least eight Palestinian protesters were wounded as Israeli troops fired on demonstrators who gathered for a third consecutive Friday of mass protests along Gazas border with Israel. One of the Palestinians was in critical condition, Palestinian medics said, as a protest dubbed "The Great March of Return" moved into its third week. The protests since March 30 have posed a challenge to Israel, which has dismissed criticism of its use of live fire, saying its rules of engagement are necessary and will not change. An Israeli military spokesman said Friday its troops were "responding with riot dispersal means while also firing in accordance with the rules of engagement". Last week, protesters burned mounds of tires, sending plumes of smoke into the air in the border area. Israeli soldiers used large fans in a bid to push the smoke away. The protests, planned to last six weeks, are calling for Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes that are now inside Israel. Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to soldiers, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the European Union have called for an independent investigation.