Israel Uses Brutal Force to Quell West Bank protests
Ramallah, MINA – The Israeli occupation army used live ammunition and tear gas grenades to put down dozens of protests staged by the Palestinians in the West Bank cities Friday afternoon.
The mass rallies, part of the second “Friday of wrath,” were organized by the Palestinian groups in protest against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of the Jewish state and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.
Protesters in Qalandia refugee camp, located between Jerusalem and Ramallah, headed to the Israeli security checkpoint between the camp and Jerusalem after the Friday noon prayers; they carried the Palestinian flags, chanted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans and called for escalating the confrontation against Israel.
The Israeli occupation forces that beefed up their presence at the scene in the recent days fired bullets, tear gas canisters and stun guns to disperse the mainly peaceful protesters.
At the northern entrance of Ramallah dozens of protesters were injured, one seriously, in a mass rally organized by Hamas group in the 30 anniversary of the group.
In Nablus a similar confrontation took place when protesters approached the Huwwara checkpoint, located south of the city.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli forces attacked a mass rally staged by Muslim worshippers at Bab Al-Amud gate of Al-Aqsa mosque after the noon prayers.
Several injuries were reported in similar protests in the towns of Qalqilya, Tulkarm and Jenin – to the north of the West Bank, Al-Khalil (Hebron), Bil’in, Ni’lin, Budrus, Kafr Kodom, Sabsatya, Allaban, Tarqumiyah, Al-Shuyokh, Al-Aroub, and Beit Ummar – in the southern part of the West Bank.
The Palestinian popular protests will continue on parallel with the official reaction until the US backs down on its unfair decision, Jamal Mehisen, member of the executive committee of Fatah Movement, vowed.
“Fatah will convene a meeting of the central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to mull an appropriate response to Trump’s decision soon after Palestinian President returns to Ramallah,” he told KUNA.
“Trump’s decision has triggered a battle against not only Fatah but on a global scale as well, because Jerusalem concerns Muslims and Christians,” Mehisen stressed.
Earlier today, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that four Palestinians were martyred and 192 others wounded in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces in several parts of the West Bank. (T/RS5/RS1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
