Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- Israel and the United States on Monday blamed Syria for violent protests on the country 's border with the occupied Golan Heights . The demonstrations were a provocation designed to draw international attention away from harsh reprisals against protesters in Hama and other Syrian cities , the countries said . Israeli officials said 10 people died Sunday when fire bombs thrown by protesters detonated landmines , said Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich , an Israeli military spokeswoman . Syrian state media reported 23 protesters were killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire on demonstrators . `` There is an attempt here to incite the international community and to draw attention away from the harsh events '' in Hama , Syria , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the Knesset , Israel 's parliament . More than 1,000 people have died since the Syrian government began a crackdown on demonstrators seeking government reforms , according to the United Nations . Human rights groups say 80 people died when security forces sprayed a crowd of protesters in Hama on Friday . In Sunday 's demonstrations , Israeli troops used tear gas and live ammunition on members of the demonstrators only `` after using up all other means , '' Netanyahu said . The soldiers followed international law , he said . `` We stand by our rights to defend our borders , our cities and our citizens , '' he said . `` We will do it with restraint and great responsibility . '' The United States defended Israel 's response , said State Department spokesman Mark Toner . `` As we did previously , we condemn what appears to be an effort by the Syrian government to incite events and draw attention away from its own internal issues , '' Toner said . `` And it 's clear that such behavior will not distract international attention on Syria 's , Syrian government 's condemnable behavior on its own citizens . '' The protests came on the anniversary of the 1967 Middle East War , when Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria . The Israel Defense Forces said that Israeli troops used tear gas and live ammunition on members of an `` angered mob . '' As many as 500 people took part in the demonstration , holding mid-day prayers on the Syrian side of the border , then crouching down behind ramparts that Israel constructed in response to similar demonstrations three weeks ago . The number later dropped to about 50 , with protesters waving Palestinian and Syrian flags . CNN 's Kevin Flower contributed to this report .
NEW : Israel , United States call the fatal bombing a provocation . AM : Israel PM : Sunday protests were an effort to distract from harsh Syrian crackdown . Israeli ##s say 10 people died when fire bombs they threw set off landmines . The protests came on the anniversary of the 2014 Middle East War .