Israeli forces injure dozens of Palestinians in West Bank

Israeli forces continue to attack Palestinians taking part in anti-settlement protests in several areas across the occupied West Bank, wounding dozens of them in the latest such assaults.

Eighteen Palestinians were shot with live ammunition and rubber bullets during clashes with Israeli forces in the town of Beita, on Sobeih Mountain, south of Nablus, on Friday.

Tens of Palestinians also suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas fired by the Israeli troops during the clashes.

Over the past weeks, the area has seen intensified clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians protesting against a settlement outpost that has been recently established on the mountain by settlers under the protection of Israeli forces.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Friday slammed the Israeli regime for not evacuating the settlement outpost “Eviatar” and blamed it for any Palestinian casualties in Beita and neighboring towns, stressing the Palestinians’ right to defend their lands.

The ministry also urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to evacuate the settlement outpost.

Also on Friday, Israeli forces attacked the participants in a weekly anti-settlement protest in the village of Kafr Qaddum.

During the clashes, Israeli forces shot two Palestinians with live ammunition and arrested one of them, who was identified as Nasfat Shetewi.

Tens of Palestinians also suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas during the clashes, while four others, including two journalists, were hit by rubber bullets.

Israeli troops also attacked Palestinians who were gathering in al-Ras area, west of the West Bank city of Salfit, which is threatened with seizure by Israel for the construction of a settlement outpost, leaving tens of Palestinians suffering breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas.

To the south of al-Khalil (Hebron) City, Israeli troops attacked a protest against settlement expansion in Masafer Yatta on Friday.

The participants in the protest were carrying the Palestinian flag and chanting slogans against the Israeli occupation and the ethnic cleansing of the residents of Masafer Yatta by Israel.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on occupied land. The United Nations Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories in several resolutions.