Palestinians injured in Friday clashes with Israel army

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Dozens of Palestinians were injured in Friday clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Israeli forces used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse Palestinian protesters near the Jewish-only Bet Eil settlement.

In the city of Hebron (Al-Khalil), three Palestinians were injured by live ammunition -- including one who is now in critical condition -- while another 22 suffered excessive teargas inhalation, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC).

Another three were injured by rubber bullets in the city of Nablus, the PLC said, while 32 others suffered temporary asphyxia due to teargas.

In the blockaded Gaza Strip, meanwhile, 25 Palestinians were injured -- by either rubber bullets or live ammunition -- while clashing with Israeli troops near the coastal enclave’s eastern border.

The Palestinian territories have remained tense since early last month, when U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, drawing widespread condemnation from across the Arab and Muslim world.

Since then, 18 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- in clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.