A young Palestinian protester hurls rocks at Israeli forces during confrontations with them in the town of Beita, near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, on July 16 2021. (Photo by AFP)
Ramallah, July 17 (RHC)-- Dozens of Palestinians have been injured during clashes with Israeli forces, who attacked anti-settlement protesters in several areas across the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces injured 75 Palestinians during clashes in the town of Beita and the village of Beit Dajan in the West Bank province of Nablus on Friday. According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the injured included 10 people who were shot with live ammunition fired by the Israeli troops, and 15 who were hit by rubber bullets, as well as 46 who were exposed to excessive tear gas.
Over the past two months, Beita has seen intensified clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians protesting against a settlement outpost that has been recently established on Sobeih Mountain by settlers under the protection of Israeli forces.
Israeli forces also attacked a weekly anti-settlement protest in the West Bank village of Kafr Qaddum on Friday, using sound bombs and tear gas. Scores of Palestinians suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling the tear gas fired at the protesters in the village.
Moreover, tens of Palestinians suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas when Israeli troops attacked people who had gathered in al-Ras area, west of the West Bank city of Salfit, to take part in a popular event to denounce Israel’s settlement policy on Friday.
According to Wafa news agency, one “foreigner” who was taking part in the protest to express solidarity with the Palestinians was arrested by the Israeli forces. Al-Ras area is threatened with seizure by Israel for the construction of a settlement outpost.
Also on Friday, a young man was hit by Israeli rubber bullets and dozens of others suffered tear gas-related breathing difficulties when Israeli troops suppressed an anti-settlement protest in the town of Hizma in Jerusalem al-Quds.
More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.
All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on occupied land. The United Nations Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories in several resolutions.
