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West Bank boiling as popular resistance grows


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Dozens of Palestinian protesters were hit by rubber-coated bullets while others suffered from tear gas during clashes Friday across the West Bank between Israeli troops and protesters.

Hundreds of young Palestinians rallied after Friday prayers to protest the death of a young Palestinian man, Arafat Jaradat, last week only five days after he was detained and interrogated by Israeli intelligence, and to show solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners.

A Ma'an reporter in Ramallah in the central West Bank said clashes broke out in different areas in the district including nearby al-Bireh, a neighborhood in Beitunia close to Israel’s Ofer detention center, the Qalandiya checkpoint and the town of Bilin west of Ramallah.

He highlighted that more than 15 young men were hit by rubber-coated bullets in addition to dozens who were hurt by tear gas which Israeli troops fired heavily near Ofer detention center.

Large numbers of Israeli troops deployed heavily in the area. They showered the protesters with foul-smelling liquids. The protesters, for their part, threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers.

Similar clashes erupted near Qalandiya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem during which six young Palestinians were hit by rubber-coated gunshots, and several others were hurt by tear gas.

The Ma’an reporter highlighted that high velocity tear-gas canisters the soldiers fired hit some vehicles as they traveled on the main road near Qalandia. more

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