Palestinians wounded during West Bank weekly protest

A Palestinians protestor hurls a rock towards Israeli forces, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets at them, during a protest against building of illegal settlements at the Kafr Qaddum village of Nablus, West Bank on February 01, 2019 [Nedal Eshtayah / Anadolu Agency]

Tens of Palestinian protesters were wounded and suffered severe breathing problems due to the heavy use of tear gas by the Israeli army as it cracked down on weekly protests in the West Bank city of Bil’in.

After Friday prayers, the protesters gathered in the centre of the village – which is located to the west of Ramallah – and headed towards the Separation Wall near Um Al-Laimoun, in the southern part of Bil’in.

The Israeli army opened fire at the protesters – who included foreign and Israeli peace activists – and threw gas canisters, leaving tens of them suffocating.

The protesters raised placards with slogans condemning Israel’s illegal settlements and calling for the Palestinians to unite. Witnesses said that the protesters also chanted slogans calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and to let Palestinian refugees return home.

Read: Israel denies UN envoys access to West Bank

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