Dozens injured as Israelis attack Palestinians in West Bank

Israeli forces have once again attacked Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, injuring dozens either in raids or direct confrontations.

Palestine’s Ma’an news agency said on Wednesday that over a dozen Palestinians were injured during a raid by Israeli forces on Palestinian protesters in Qalandiya refugee camp near the northern city of Ramallah.

The report said a Palestinian teenager, identified as Faris Abu al-Esh, was shot during the raid before he was nabbed by the Israelis. Palestinian protesters then began to throw stones at the Israeli forces, who opened fire on the demonstrators.

Palestinian health officials said all the injured people were transferred to a medical facility in Ramallah.

The Israeli military said the protests began after soldiers stormed Qalandiya during the early hours of Wednesday to arrest some Palestinians involved in the recent uprising against Israel.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident on Wednesday, clashes broke out in al-Arrub refugee camp near the city of al-Khalil (Hebron) south of Ramallah. The clashes came reportedly after Israeli forces fired tear gas on people holding a peaceful march in commemoration of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. At least 11 people were injured in the incident.

In the town of Bethlehem, south of al-Quds, Israeli forces used rubber bullets against Palestinians, with reports saying a child was injured. Clashes in the town of Bireh, near the city of Ramallah, injured five Palestinian teenagers.

The news comes against the backdrop of over 40 days of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, where about 80 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis.

The recent turmoil was triggered by a series of Israeli settler violence against Palestinians. In addition, Palestinians say Tel Aviv seeks to change the status quo of the al-Aqsa compound, a revered site for Muslims around the world.

The clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians have also led to the death of a number of Israeli settlers and soldiers.

Most of the Palestinian victims of the Israeli aggression were accused of attempting to stab Israelis before they were killed by the Tel Aviv regime forces.

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