7 Palestinians injured in West Bank clashes

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Seven Palestinians were injured Wednesday in clashes with Israeli army forces in the occupied West Bank, according to a local physician.

The violence erupted when Jewish settlers forced their way into the town of Huwara, south of Nablus, under army protection, witnesses said.

One Palestinian was injured by live gunfire and six others suffered temporary asphyxiation due to teargas fired by Israeli forces, Ahmed Jibril of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society told Anadolu Agency.

The Israeli military had no comment on the report.

Tension has gripped Huwara in recent days amid provocations by Israeli settlers, who replaced Palestinian flags in the town with Israeli ones.

The town is located near a highway between Nablus and Ramallah used by Israeli settlers to reach their settlements.

Israeli and Palestinian estimates indicate there are about 650,000 settlers living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the West Bank, including in occupied Jerusalem.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar