PALESTINIAN INJURED AS SETTLERS OPEN FIRE SOUTH OF BETHLEHEM

Armed settlers overlook a Palestinian village south of Nablus during confrontations following the setting on fire of Palestinian-owned fields on Jan. 1, 2010. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP)

Bethlehem, 19 Dzulhijjah 1436/3 October 2015 (MINA) – A Palestinian man was injured on Friday as Jewish settlers opened fire at a major crossroads in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc south of Bethlehem, Palestinian medics said.

Walid Khalid Qawwar, 35, from Aida refugee camp was moderately injured after being hit by shrapnel when settlers opened fire in the area, Maan News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Dozens of settlers had gathered at the intersection near a cluster of illegal Israeli settlements south of Bethlehem, witnesses said.

An Israeli army spokesperson said she was looking into the incident.

Tensions are high in the occupied West Bank following the killing of two Israeli settlers late Thursday in the Nablus district.

Hundreds of Israeli forces have deployed in the West Bank to search for the perpetrators of the shooting, while settlers have carried out reprisal attacks against Palestinians across the West Bank, including setting fire to a car and damaging at least 15 more. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)