RAMALLAH: At least 165 Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank, Xinhua news agency quoted medics and eyewitnesses.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said the fierce clashes broke out near the villages of Beita, Beit Dajan, Burqin, and Huwara south and east of Nablus city, respectively, and near the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qaqilya city.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society said in a statement that at least 125 demonstrators were injured, including two who have been shot by live ammunition and 25 by rubber bullets fired by Israeli soldiers.
The others suffered from inhaling the teargas, the medics added.
Murad Ishteiwi, the Palestinian coordinator of the popular resistance in Qalqilya, told Xinhua that a ten-year-old boy was among the injured.
The eyewitnesses said dozens of anti-settlement demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the outskirts of the villages and burned tires.
Israeli authorities have yet to give any comment on the incidents.
Beita and Beit Dajan have seen at least weekly protests against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the two villages and clashes with the Israeli soldiers.
Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians want to establish their independent Palestinian state on these territories.
Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stopped in 2014 due to deep disputes. – Bernama
