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Update: March 26, 2015

Hundreds participate in the funeral for Ali Safi, Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah, March 26, 2015. (photo: Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org)

Ahmad al Bazz / Activestills.org

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered to take part in the funeral of Ali Safi in the Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah Thursday. Safi, 18, was shot with live bullets by Israeli soldiers during clashes near the refugee camp on Wednesday, March 18. He was taken to a hospital in Ramallah and placed in the ICU until he died on Wednesday night.
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by IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources have reported that a young man has been shot, and seriously injured, on Wednesday at night, by an Israeli army live round, near the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

The sources said resident ‘Ali Mahmoud Safi, 20 years of age, was shot, and seriously injured, by a live round directly to the chest.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition at local youths, during clashes that took place after the army invaded the area.

Several residents have also been injured during ensuing clashes, but their wounds have been described as mild.

Several military vehicles have been deployed in the area, closing a number of roads, and obstructed Palestinian traffic.
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RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Nine Palestinians were injured Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces opened fire on protesters at al-Jalazun refugee camp north of Ramallah.

Israeli soldiers shot 20-year-old Palestinian named Ali Mahmoud Safi in the chest with a 0.22 caliber bullet during the protest.

The bullet exited his body through the back, and the youth was in serious condition as of Wednesday evening.

Locals said three other protesters were struck by live bullets, and five by rubber-coated steel bullets.

The protest reportedly began after locals gathered in opposition to the construction of a wall between the refugee camp and the nearby Jewish-only settlement of Beit El.

Beit El is strategically located on a hill at the northern edge of Ramallah, blocking free movement for local Palestinians to and from the city through a checkpoint. The most direct road north, meanwhile, is off-limits to Palestinians.

An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed the shooting.

"There was a riot of 50 Palestinians in Jalazun," she told Ma'an, adding that "rioters hurled rocks at the soldiers and they responded with riot dispersal means."

"Upon their refusal to vacate the area and refrain from further violence, they fired a .22 caliber round toward the main instigator," she said.

"A hit was confirmed."

The spokeswoman refused to comment on how the protest had begun or why the soldiers were in the area immediately beside the camp.