Description

Photo: Israeli forces fire tear gas at Palestinian demonstrators following a
protest from Deir Jarir east of Ramallah, on May 17.
(AFP/Abbas Momani)

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Israeli troops shot and wounded nine stone-throwing Palestinians during a clash near Ramallah on Friday night, Palestinian security officials told AFP.

They said that Palestinians from the Jalazoun refugee camp were stoning Israeli motorists near the neighboring Beit El settlement and came under fire from soldiers sent to disperse them.

They said that six of the injured were sent home after receiving first aid at a hospital and three were kept in, although none of them was in life-threatening condition. All were hit in the legs.

An army spokeswoman said that troops opened fire with 0.22 ammunition after tear gas and rubber bullets failed to disperse the crowd of about 50 people engaged in "a violent disturbance."

Features