Israeli forces injure several Palestinians in anti-settlement rallies in West Bank

Several Palestinians have sustained injuries while dozens of others suffered tear gas inhalation as Israeli military forces violently dispersed anti-settlement demonstrations in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors Israeli settlement activities in the northern West Bank, said extremist Jewish settlers, under the protection of Israeli troops, barged their way into Qaryout village, located 28 kilometers (17 miles) southeast of Nablus, on Friday, triggering confrontations with local residents.

Israeli soldiers then fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters at the protesting villagers, injuring a number of them. Dozens of others suffered breathing difficulties from tear gas during clashes with Israeli troops and settlers.

Similar confrontations erupted when Israeli forces cracked down on anti-settlement rallies in Beita town and Beit Dajan village, south and east of Nablus.

Israel to spend billions of shekels on settlement expansion in West Bank

The Israeli regime plans to allocate billions of shekels to develop settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said two Palestinian civilians suffered breathing problems in Beita, while twelve others were wounded in Beit Dajan. 

In a related development, a number of Palestinians were injured after Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas bombs at protesters in Kafr Qaddum town.

Since July 2011, Kafr Qaddum has witnessed marches every Friday with locals demanding the opening of the town’s main entrance, which has been sealed for many years.

Emboldened by former US president Donald Trump’s all-out support, Israel has stepped up its illegal settlement construction activities in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which pronounced settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds “a flagrant violation under international law.”

All Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory 'must stop': UN chief

UN chief calls for an end to the Israeli regime

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories in several resolutions.

Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent state with East al-Quds as its capital.

Palestinian resistance fighters carry out 27 retaliatory operations

Meanwhile, the Palestine Information Center (Mo’ta) says resistance fighters have carried out 27 retaliatory operations within the past 24 hours.

Clashes broke out between young Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops in al-Eizariya town, the Bab al-Asbat neighborhood of the Old City of al-Quds, Silwan district in East al-Quds and the Shuafat refugee camp.

Palestinians also confronted extremist settlers at the Lions' Gate of the Old City of al-Quds in protest at the contentious flag march, injuring an Israeli policeman and three settlers in the process.

Moreover, confrontations broke out in Silwad town, al-Mazra'a al-Qibliya village, Marah Rabah village, Husan town, Tuqu’ town, Umm Rukba district on the outskirts of Bethlehem, Beit Ummar town as well as al-Arroub refugee camp.

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