Israeli troops injure dozens of Palestinian protesters in West Bank

Ramallah, January 8 (RHC)-- Israeli forces have injured dozens of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as a crackdown on anti-settlement protests continues in the occupied Palestinian territories.  On Friday, Israeli forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters who took part in a rally in the village of Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah City, to voice their anger at the Tel Aviv regime’s land grab policies.

At least five people sustained bullet wounds. Dozens of others suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling the tear gas.  The clashes took place after the Israeli forces tried to disperse the protesters opposing a settler unit that was built in the village on December 23.

Eyewitnesses said the Israeli forces also attacked journalists covering the protests.  Every Friday, Palestinians organize anti-settlement protests in a number of villages and towns in the occupied West Bank.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on occupied land.

Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.