Palestinian injured by Israeli gunfire at Jerusalem checkpoint

By Firas Mohamed

JERUSALEM (AA) - A young Palestinian was shot Tuesday by Israeli soldiers near a military checkpoint at the Shufat refugee camp in northern occupied Jerusalem.

Witnesses said Israeli soldiers shot the man because he tried to break through a closed checkpoint. His condition was described as moderate.

Israeli forces closed the checkpoint late Tuesday in front of dozens of vehicles that sparked anger and protests among Palestinians at the site.

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israeli authorities have harassed and attacked worshippers in the midst of prayers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest in Islam, and threatened to evict dozens of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem.

Tension spread from East Jerusalem to the Gaza Strip after Palestinian groups in Gaza vowed to retaliate for the raids on Al-Aqsa, and potential resident removals in Sheikh Jarrah.

As of late Tuesday, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed 28 Palestinians, including nine children, and injured 152 others. Two Israelis have been killed in rocket attacks.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara