Dozens injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers in West Bank, Gaza

Dozens of Palestinians were injured Friday during clashes that flared with Israeli army forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, medics and eyewitnesses said.

Clashes broke out after Friday prayers upon the call of Palestinian factions to clash with the Israeli army in the Palestinian territories to mark 100 days for United States President Donald Trump's declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel.

A wounded Palestinian protester is evacuated during clashes with Israeli troops near the border between Israel and eastern Gaza Strip, on March 16, 2018. Dozens of Palestinians were injured Friday during clashes that flared with Israeli army forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, medics and eyewitnesses said.

Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of angry Palestinian young men took to the streets in the West Bank and clashed with the Israeli soldiers. Elsewhere, young demonstrators clashed with the Israeli army forces on the borders between Israel and eastern Gaza.

They said that the demonstrators threw stones, waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against Israel and U.S., while the soldiers fired back tear gas canisters, rubber-coated metal bullets and live ammunition.

A wounded Palestinian protester is evacuated during clashes with Israeli troops near the border between Israel and eastern Gaza Strip, on March 16, 2018. Dozens of Palestinians were injured Friday during clashes that flared with Israeli army forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, medics and eyewitnesses said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said in an emailed press statement that around 25 Palestinians were shot and wounded, adding that all were taken by ambulances for medical treatment in Gaza Strip hospitals.

In the West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in an emailed press statement that eight Palestinian young men were injured by live ammunition and rubber bullets and dozens were treated for inhaling tear gas.

Since Trump's declaration on Jerusalem in December 6, clashes in the Palestinian territories have been going on in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip every Friday, which left more than 20 Palestinians killed and hundreds wounded.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)