Israeli army disperses Palestinian protests in W. Bank

By Qais Abu Samra

HEBRON/RAMALLAH (AA) - The Israeli army on Friday forcibly dispersed a number of Palestinian protests in the occupied West Bank, according to witnesses and the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC).

In the city of Hebron (Al-Khalil), Israeli troops used teargas to disperse Palestinian demonstrators who were gearing up to mark the 24th anniversary of the infamous Ibrahimi Mosque massacre.

On Feb. 25, 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli-American Jewish settler, gunned down 29 Palestinian Muslims as they prayed at the mosque -- located in Hebron’s Old City -- before being killed himself.

In a related development Friday, dozens of Palestinians were injured in separate clashes across the West Bank amid ongoing demonstrations against the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Three Palestinians were hurt by live ammunition amid clashes that erupted near the Jewish-only Beit El settlement north of Ramallah, according to a statement released by the PRC.

In the village of Al-Mazara al-Gharbiyeh east of Ramallah, a fourth Palestinian was injured by live ammunition while two others were hurt by rubber bullets, the PRC said.

And in the West Bank city of Nablus, three more Palestinians were reportedly hurt by live ammunition, while at least 20 others suffered temporary asphyxia after inhaling teargas.

In the city of Qalqilya, meanwhile, another three Palestinians were injured by rubber bullets during clashes with Israeli troops, according to the PRC.

The Palestinian territories have remained dogged by tension since U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December.

The move drew condemnation from across the Arab and Muslim world and sparked protests and clashes in the Palestinian territories that have left at least 25 Palestinians dead to date.