PARIS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- France expressed concerns over the use of excessive force in Palestinians' demonstration in the Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to show more restraint, foreign ministry spokeswoman said in a statement released on Sunday.

"France reminds the Israeli authorities of their duty to protect civilians and urges them to show the greatest restraint," said Agnes von der Muhll.

"France also highlights the Palestinians' right to peacefully demonstrate," she added.

An anti-Israel rally, dubbed the Great Return March, turned violent on Friday following clashes between Israeli forces and the Palestinians, leaving 15 Palestinians dead and over 1,000 others injured.

It was the largest single day death toll seen in the area since Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Israel started a war in the summer of 2014.