8 Palestinians hurt in W. Bank clashes with Israel army

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - At least eight Palestinians were injured by Israeli army gunfire and dozens more were affected by tear gas in clashes that erupted on Monday near the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said that eight Palestinians suffering gunshot wounds -- including one who had sustained a “serious” head injury -- had been taken to the Ramallah Medical Center for treatment.

Medics working at the scene of the clashes told Anadolu Agency that they had treated “dozens” of Palestinians who had suffered temporary asphyxia after inhaling excessive amounts of tear gas.

The clashes erupted after Palestinian students from Ramallah’s Birzeit University staged a demonstration to protest last week’s arrest of a student union leader by the Israeli authorities.

Student demonstrators blocked roads with burning tires and hurled stones at Israeli troops who responded with teargas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.

Earlier Monday, dozens of Palestinians were treated for teargas inhalation following similar clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank village of Burin near Nablus.