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Photos:
*a wounded resident, Friday
*Israeli border police officers use pepper spray as they detain an injured
Palestinian protester outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City March 30.
(Reuters/Ammar Awad)

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli soldiers shot and injured, on Friday evening, several Palestinians in Al-Esawiyya, in occupied East Jerusalem, after invading the town leading to clashes with local youths; at least fifteen Palestinians were kidnapped by the army.

Local sources reported that the army kidnapped at least fifteen Palestinians from the town, and that some of the kidnapped residents suffered concussions and bruises after being violently attacked by the soldiers and the undercover forces of the Israeli military.

The sources added that the number of kidnapped Palestinians could be in the dozens as the soldiers detained dozens of residents, and released some of them later on, but kept a large number in its prisons.

Soldiers also broke into and searched several homes in the town, attacked several families with batons causing several injuries; some of the wounded residents required hospitalization, the Palestinian Information Center reported.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian protesters marking the Palestinian Land Day, in the Gaza Strip, killing one resident, while at least 37 residents, including one journalist, were wounded.

In the West Bank, soldiers shot and wounded approximately 100 civilians, including an American peace activist, while the residents were marking Land Day in several parts of the West Bank.

Hundreds of protesters marched towards Jerusalem demanding an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, and were attacked by the soldiers at roadblocks and terminals leading to occupied Jerusalem.

Protests were also organized at the Lebanese border with the country, as well as areas that are close to the border with Jordan.

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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli police detained 14 Palestinians in Jerusalem on Friday at demonstrations to mark Land Day, officials said.

Palestinian Authority Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Hatem Abdul Qader was among the 14 detained, said prisoner society director in Jerusalem Naser Qaws.

He was released after several hours, Qaws said.

The detainees were taken to the Russian Compound where they were beaten by Israeli officers, he added.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Ma'an that 14 Palestinians were detained in Jerusalem for throwing stones at police. One officer was lightly injured, he added.

On Land Day, Palestinians commemorate the killing of six protesters in 1976 during demonstrations against Israeli plans to confiscate land in the Galilee.
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