Israeli forces injured 55 Palestinians, 16 by live fire, in clashes around Ramallah and Hebron in the occupied West Bank Friday.
In clashes in al-Balou’ neighborhood in northern al-Bireh near Ramallah, 37 Palestinians were injured, including eight by live fire and 29 with rubber-coated steel bullets, medics said.
Two were left in serious condition, one Palestinian who was shot with live fire in the pelvis, and another hit with a rubber-coated steel bullet in the head.
Dozens of others were hurt with tear gas and pepper-spray, including four medics and four journalists.
Israeli forces also injured 18 Palestinians, eight with live fire, during clashes with Palestinians across Hebron.
In the village of Beit Ummar, one Palestinian was injured by live fire in the foot and ten others were hit by rubber-coated steel bullets, spokesman for the local resistance committee, Mohammad Ayyad Awad, told Ma’an.
The injured were taken to al-Balja Medical Complex or treated on the scene, he said.
Awad added that Israeli forces sprayed houses with foul-smelling skunk water before assaulting and arresting Samir Mohammad Dawuod al-Alami, 23.
In Hebron city, seven Palestinians were injured by live bullets and eight with rubber-coated steel bullets during clashes, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Several others suffered from tear-gas inhalation.
Clashes broke out nearby the city’s Ibrahimi Mosque after Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinians, preventing youths from praying at the holy site.
On Tariq Bin Ziyad street in southern Hebron, four Palestinians were injured with rubber-coated steel bullets as Israeli forces deployed at Abu al-Reesh military checkpoint.
Clashes also broke out in Ras al-Jora area after a march headed to the area from al-Haras Mosque.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an Friday that after an increase in attacks in the Hebron area, several measures had been taken to prevent future attacks “in accordance with a situation assessment” done by the military.
According to the spokesperson, “13 stabbing attacks have been carried out against Israeli security and civilians, including four foiled attacks.”
At least 13 Palestinians have been killed around Hebron since Oct. 1 in relation to attacks, while others have died during clashes. Several deaths have been disputed by eyewitnesses and rights group who say the alleged attackers did not pose sufficient threat at the time of their death to warrant lethal force.
UN Secretery-General earlier this week said: “A number of incidents, many caught on video…call into question the degree of response, including the apparent disproportionate use of lethal force as a first resort.”
(Ma’an)
