Israelis, Palestinians clash at rallies in West Bank

Fri Aug 1, 2014 2:5PM GMT

 

Clashes have erupted in several areas in the occupied West Bank between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians who rallied against Tel Aviv’s ongoing massacre in the Gaza Strip, Press TV reports.

The scuffles occurred in different areas of the occupied West Bank including the city of al-Khalil (Hebron), Bethlehem, and Beit Ummar as Israeli soldiers used live ammunition to attack protesters who were demonstrating in solidarity with the Gazans.

“The Israeli forces are not using the regular dispersal weapons such as smoke grenades and shock grenades...but...they are using live ammunition,” confirmed Press TV correspondent Hanna Qassis.

About 22 Palestinians have been injured during the clashes.
Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails in retaliation.
The West Bank Palestinians said they were out in the streets to show solidarity with their brothers and sisters who are being killed in Gaza.

“Palestinians in Gaza are the same people, the same blood, and have the same history, and therefore [the West Bank Palestinians] are clashing with the Israeli forces to express their anger over the massacre taking place in the Gaza Strip,” Qassis added.

Israeli warplanes have been carrying out incessant airstrikes against the blockaded Gaza Strip since July 8. On July 17, thousands of Israeli soldiers launched a ground invasion into the densely-populated territory.

About 1,500 Palestinians have been killed and over 8,000 injured following 25 days of Israeli aerial and ground assaults on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military says it has lost nearly 61 of its troops in clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters, but Hamas says over 146 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the past 24 days. This is seen as the heaviest loss of life for the Israeli military in years.

Source