20 Palestinians Injured, 1 Critically, after Israeli Forces Violently Disperse March
Ramallah, 15 Muharram 1438/16 October 2016 (MINA) – Some 20 Palestinians were injured Saturday evening — one critically with a live bullet to the head — during clashes at the main entrance to the al-Jalazun refugee camp in northern Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank, following a march commemorating the first anniversary of the killing of 13-year-old Ahmad Sharaka, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces last year during clashes.
Palestinian youth threw rocks, Molotov cocktails, and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers who attempted to disperse the demonstration by firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas canisters at the dozens of participants in the march, before Israeli soldiers eventually retreated to the illegal Israeli Beit El settlement.
Fares Ziad al-Bayed, 16, was critically injured after being shot in the head with a live bullet, according to Ma’an quoted local sources.
Another unidentified Palestinian was injured by shrapnel from live ammunition in his back, while three others were shot in the head with rubber-coated steel bullets.
Sources added that some 14 others were shot and injured with rubber-coated steel bullets in various places on their body, while another was injured when Israeli forces fired a tear gas canister at his head.
A number of the wounded were evacuated to the Palestine Medical Center for treatment, including Ziad who was undergoing surgery.
An Israeli army spokesperson later confirmed that live fire was used during the clashes, saying that she was aware of reports of injuries but could not confirm them.
She said that after “violent riots” erupted at the entrance to the refugee camp, with dozens of Palestinians rolling burning tires and hurling “firebombs” at Israeli soldiers, Israeli forces “responded to the threat by firing toward main instigators,” and that live ammunition was used “due to the extent of the violence.” (T/R07/R01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
