Thirteen injured as Israeli forces fire tear gas at Palestinians near Nablus​​

Ramallah, January 27 (RHC)-- At least thirteen Palestinians have suffered respiratory problems due to inhalation of tear gas fired by Israeli forces against anti-land-grab protests near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

Israeli forces used fatal violence on Friday to disperse rallies against the construction of new colonial settlements near Beita, south of Nablus, and another rally in Beit Dajan against threats to grab Palestinian-owned lands.

According to medical sources, 10 people suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation in Beit Dajan and three others suffered the same in Beita, WAFA news agency reported.  The far-right Israeli cabinet, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has put the expansion of illegal settlements top on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Palestinians across the West Bank have risen up against decades of Israeli apartheid and occupation, and the village of Beita is one of many villages that see confrontations.  According to Palestinian media, some eight people from the town have been killed and 620 others injured while trying to confront a settler outpost built on top of Mount Sabih.

Israeli forces have also erected another outpost atop Mount Al-Amara, north of the village. The strategic location of the mountains enables the occupiers to overlook the Jordan Valley.

"Seizing the two hilltops represents a panoptical defensive tool as they would grant the Israeli occupation with a panoramic view over the Jordan Valley and the whole district of Nablus.  This is why the Israeli occupation authorities have assigned them a place in its settlement expansion project," WAFA reported.

The Israeli regime proclaimed existence in 1948 after occupying huge swathes of regional territories during a Western-backed war.  It occupied more land, namely the West Bank, which includes East al-Quds, the Gaza Strip, and Syria's Golan Heights in another such war in 1967.

Ever since Tel Aviv has built more than 250 settlements upon the occupied lands and deployed the most aggressive restraints on Palestinian freedoms there. Between 600,000 and 750,000 Israelis occupy the settlements.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law due to their construction upon occupied territory.  The United Nations Security Council has condemned the regime’s settlement activities through several resolutions.