Violent clashes erupted on Thursday between Palestinians and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the wake of peaceful marches in solidarity with Palestinian hunger striking detainees in Israeli jails. Dozens of Palestinians suffered suffocation due to Israeli tear gas while others were injured by rubber bullets. Dozens others were arrested.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF troops showered Palestinian young men who threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers with live and rubber bullets other than tear gas grenades.
At least two Palestinians were injured by live bullets and tens of others choked on tear gas during clashes that erupted in Bab al-Zawiya in al-Khalil city.
Similar clashes broke out in al-Aroub refugee camp and Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil governorate. Clashes also were reported near Beit El barrier in Ramallah resulting in the arrest of five Palestinian youths and injuries of some others.
Suffocation cases were also reported in clashes that erupted in Azzoun town near Qalqilya. Two young men were rounded up during violent clashes at the northern entrance of Bethlehem city while two others suffered breathing problems because of Israeli tear gas.
The clashes came in response to calls for escalating protest events in the West Bank at the IPS punitive measures pursued against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on open hunger strike for the eleventh day in a row.
