Israel soldiers injure, suffocate Palestinians during West Bank anti-settlement protest

Palestinian protestors have been severely injured after being shot by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration over illegal Israeli settlements in the village of Beita on the outskirts of occupied Nablus.

According to Ahmad Jibril, director of the Red Crescent emergency centre in Nablus, Palestinian protestors gathered at a rally were violently dispersed by the Israeli occupation forces who injured one after shooting a rubber-coated steel bullet in his hand and hitting four others with canisters in the head. Scores of others suffered suffocation as a result of tear gas inhalation.

He added that another Palestinian was seriously injured and rushed to hospital after falling from a height after being chased by soldiers.

The village has seen regular demonstrations to voice anger at a nearby Israeli settler outpost, often leading to violent dispersals by occupation forces.

The settlers agreed to leave the outpost last month under an deal with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, following weeks of demonstrations by Palestinians.

But some of the outpost’s buildings remained, locked and under military guard. Palestinians, who claim the land the outpost is on, have vowed to continue their demonstrations.

Israeli forces have killed seven Palestinians and wounded more than 300 since these protests started in May. Palestinians in the area have recently started rallying after midnight, using torches, lasers and burning tyres in an effort to push the settlers out.

Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the 1967 Six Day War and has since expanded settlements on occupied lands, which now house about 700,000 settlers in 164 illegal settlements and 116 outposts.

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