At least 15 Palestinians including two journalists were injured at the hands of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and settlers during Friday weekly marches in occupied Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza Strip, According to Palestinian local agencies.
In Ramallah, Israeli forces suppressed Friday afternoon anti-settlement march in Bi’lin town west of the city and another march against Apartheid Wall in Kafer Qaddum village in Qalqilia. Dozens of youths were injured with rubber bullets and tear gas bombs during the attack, local sources reported.
A Palestinian photojournalist was injured by Israeli forces, as dozens others suffered from tear gas inhalation during the weekly protest.
Popular resistance coordinator in Kafr Qaddum Murad Shtewei said that Israeli forces “assaulted” participants in the protest minutes after it began.
The soldiers injured photojournalist Nidal Shtayyah after hitting him with a tear gas canister in the back of his head. He was taken to Rafidia hospital for treatment.
Shtewei added that Israeli forces fired a barrage of tear gas, which landed mostly in surrounding homes, causing a family of five to suffer from tear gas inhalation, in addition to others participating in the protest, who were treated on the scene.
Residents of Kafr Qaddum began staging weekly protests in 2011 against land confiscations, as well as the closure of the village’s southern road by Israeli forces. The road, which has been closed 13 years, is the main route to the nearby city of Nablus, the nearest economic center.
Following similar clashes that broke out last month, Shtewei said that more than 330 protests have been held over that period, during which time 84 protesters have been injured by live fire, including 12 children.
Some 120 others have been detained at protests and were subsequently held in Israeli custody for periods ranging between four and 24 months, Shtewei said, adding that they have paid fines totaling some 25,000 shekels (approximately $6,488).
Over the course of five years, an elderly protester was killed after suffering from excessive tear gas inhalation, one youth lost his eyesight, and another his ability to speak, he added.
In Tulkarem, a group of settlers attacked a Palestinian vehicle near Anab checkpoint east of the city. Two Palestinians were injured during the settlers’ attack.
In Nablus, clashes erupted as Israeli forces stormed Beit Furik town amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs. No injuries were reported during the confrontation. Similar clashes were reported in Alezariya and Abu Dis towns east of occupied Jerusalem. Fire erupted during the clashes due to the excessive use of teargas bombs.
Meanwhile, along with armed Israeli forces, Israeli Jerusalem municipality crews reportedly raided the occupied East Jerusalem villages of al-Isawyia and Silwan, where they delivered demolition orders and summons to local residents.
According to the Wadi Hilwah Information Center, Israeli forces accompanied municipality crews who raided the al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan, where they hung demolition orders and warnings telling residents to “follow-up with the municipality on several buildings in the area.”
The forces reportedly took pictures of neighborhood buildings and entrances of the neighborhood, and wrote tickets for parked cars.
Muhammad Abu al-Homos, a member of the al-Isawiya monitoring committee, said Israeli forces raided the village, searched a house, and patrolled the streeta ‘provocatively’. He added that the forces detained a teenager who was present in the area.
In Gaza Strip, clashes broke out in Nahal Oz military site east of the Strip. Three youths suffered live bullet injuries during the confrontation.
