RAMALLAH, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday in clashes with Israeli soldiers in several West Bank cities and villages, Palestinian medics said.
Fierce clashes broke out between anti-settlement protesters and Israeli soldiers, during which six people were shot by rubber bullets, including an eight-year-old boy, while dozens inhaled teargas fired by Israeli troops, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement. The protesters burned tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers.
In Beita village, south of Nablus city, people have been protesting against a nearby Israeli settlement that has been allegedly encroaching the land of the village since May 2021.
Israeli authorities have not commented on the incidents yet.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians attended the funeral of a seven-year-old child, Rayan Suleiman, who died on Thursday after being chased by Israeli soldiers in the village of Tekoa, southeast of Bethlehem.
Local media reported that the boy was walking home from school on Thursday when he and his brothers were chased by Israeli soldiers. After the boys arrived home, the troops questioned their father at their home.
The boy died of "fear" of Israeli forces after he was sent to hospital later in the day, said the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The mourners carried the child's body wrapped in the Palestinian flag. They roamed the village streets and headed to the family's house, chanting angry slogans that denounced the incident.
In a statement, an Israeli army spokesman said that the army is investigating the case, adding that "no connection" was found between the boy's death and the military activity in the area.
During the Six-Day war between Israel and Arab countries in June 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians.
According to official Palestinian figures, more than 700,000 Israeli settlers live in 151 settlements established on Palestinian land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Tension in the West Bank has been mounting over the past few months after the Israeli army intensified its military actions and operations against Palestinians. ■
