Anti-Settlement Palestinian Protesters Attacked by IOF in West Bank

By Staff, Agencies

Palestinian protesters who took to the streets in the occupied West Bank to condemn the “Israeli” regime’s Illegal settlement activities were attacked by the regime’s forces.

“Israeli” Occupation Forces [IOF] attacked Palestinian worshipers at the al-Haram al-Ibrahimi [Ibrahimi Mosque] in the city of al-Khalil [Hebron] on Friday, using stun grenades and tear gas, leaving scores of them suffering from breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas.

Palestinians performed Friday noon prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque after the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments [Awqaf] called on people to gather there to protect the holy site from “Israeli” seizure plans.

To the south of al-Khalil, dozens of Palestinians were injured when the IOF dispersed anti-settlement protesters in Yatta City.

The Palestinians were banned by the forces from performing Friday prayers in the Umm al-Shaqhan village, which is threatened with “Israeli” seizure, in Yatta.

“Israeli” troops also arrested five Palestinians and a pro-Palestine foreign activist during the attack.

Clashes also continued between the IOF and Palestinian protesters in the flashpoint town of Beita, south of Nablus, on Friday.

The Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said a Palestinian was hit by a tear gas canister.

Since May, the town has seen intensified clashes between IOF and Palestinians protesting against a settlement outpost that has been recently established on Sobeih Mountain by settlers under the protection of “Israeli” forces.

To the east of Nablus, five Palestinians were hit by rubber bullets fired by “Israeli” troops at a weekly anti-settlement protest in the village of Beit Dajan on Friday.

The IOF also used sound bombs and tear gas against the demonstrators.

For several months, Beit Dajan has been witnessing clashes every Friday between “Israeli” troops and Palestinians protesting against the Israeli seizure of Palestinian land for the expansion of settlements.

Meanwhile, “Israeli” troops attacked a weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya City, using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Dozens of Palestinians suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas during the clashes.

According to WAFA, the protesters were carrying banners condemning the latest “Israeli” regime’s decisions to construct thousands of new settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

Separately, “Israeli” settlers on Friday morning stormed archaeological sites in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil, under the protection of the IOF, WAFA quoted local sources as saying.

Muhammad Awad, a local media activist, told WAFA that scores of settlers also stormed archaeological sites which lie near Karmei Zur settlement, south of Beit Ummar, and stretch northward to the Gush Etzion settlements.

According to the report, there are public concerns about the “Israeli” plans to seize more land for settlement expansion.

More than 600,000 “Israelis” live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 “Israeli” occupation of Palestine.

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