World

Several Palestinians wounded by Israeli gunfire in West Bank

November 20, 2018



Israeli forces fire tear gas canisters as Palestinian and foreign journalists demonstrate to demand safety measures at the Qalandiya checkpoint, between Jerusalem Al-Quds and Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. — AFP
Israeli forces fire tear gas canisters as Palestinian and foreign journalists demonstrate to demand safety measures at the Qalandiya checkpoint, between Jerusalem Al-Quds and Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. — AFP

RAMALLAH — Israeli military forces have shot and injured a dozen Palestinians across West Bank as tensions continue to rise in the occupied territories over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem Al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocation of the US embassy to the occupied city.

According to a statement released by the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Monday, four Palestinians were injured overnight by bullets from Israeli forces near the village of Deir Abu Mash’al, located 24 km (15 miles) west of Ramallah.

The ministry added that the injured Palestinians were transported to Martyr Yasser Arafat Hospital in the central West Bank city of Salfit. One of them was later taken to the An-Najah National University Hospital in Nablus due to the severity of the gunshot wound in his thigh.

On Oct. 26, a Palestinian man was killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the village of Al-Mazra’a Al-Qibliya.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported at the time that nine people had been shot with live bullets, and two had been badly injured.

On Dec. 21 last year, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial policy shift.

Despite the vote, the US went ahead with the embassy transfer on May 14, triggering demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries. Israel’s crackdown in Gaza left over 60 protesters dead in the impoverished coastal enclave on that day alone.

Angered by Trump’s move, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas boycotted his administration, saying Washington is no longer qualified to serve as the sole mediator in the decades-long conflict with Israel.

Meanwhile, eight Palestinians have been injured and several more suffered tear gas inhalation following clashes with dozens of extremist settlers and Israeli military forces in the village of Urif, located 13 km south of Nablus.

Ghassan Daghlas, the Palestinian Authority (PA) official in charge of monitoring Israeli settlement policy in the northern part of the West Bank, said Israeli forces stormed the village after locals confronted assailants from the Israeli settlement of Yitzhar.

Daghlas added that Israeli settlers sought to set an agricultural vehicle on fire.

The PRCS reported that eight Palestinians were shot and injured after Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets at them. More than 60 protesters suffered tear gas inhalation as well.

Settlers, mostly armed, regularly attack Palestinian villages and farms and set fire to their mosques, olive groves and other properties in the West Bank under the so-called “price tag” policy.

Price tag attacks are acts of vandalism and violence against Palestinians and their property as well as Islamic holy sites by Israeli settlers. — Agencies


November 20, 2018
1140 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
16 minutes ago

KFC Nigeria sorry after wheelchair user refused service at Lagos airport

World
18 minutes ago

India gangster-politician dies after cardiac arrest

World
20 minutes ago

Russia shuts down UN watchdog tracking North Korea sanctions