Israel uses drones to disperse West Bank protests

Palestinian protesters wave the national flag outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City on April 26, 2021 [AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images]

Israeli occupation forces last week used drones to disperse Palestinian demonstrations in the occupied West Bank, Haaretz revealed yesterday.

The use of drones on a wider scale was approved last week, and they were used in the West Bank and Jerusalem for the first time over the weekend, the Israeli daily said.

According to the paper, Israeli forces used drones to drop tear gas canisters to disperse protesters in the outskirts of occupied Bethlehem, and at another demonstration near the Qalandiya checkpoint in north Jerusalem.

Similar measures were used against protesters in Gaza three years ago.

Israel believes this measure is effective as it helps soldiers avoid confrontations with demonstrators as drones are able to drop between six and 12 gas canisters at once.

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