Description

Photos from a march repressed by Israeli forces in Kafr Qaddum on Feb. 26, 2016.

Photo by Rani Burnat: A Kuwaiti journalist is treated after suffering from tear gas inhalation in Bilin on Feb. 26, 2016.

Palestinian protesters near Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.
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QALQILIYA (Ma'an) -- Dozens of Palestinians were wounded across the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip on Friday as Israeli forces repressed weekly demonstrations against the ongoing military occupation.

A Palestinian youth was injured in the head by a tear gas canister and treated by medics on scene, while dozens were injured with rubber-coated steel bullets and suffered tear gas inhalation during a march in Kafr Qaddum.

Murad Ishteiwi, a coordinator of the popular resistance committee of the northern West Bank village of Kafr Qaddum, said that Israeli forces raided the town right after the march set off, firing rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas.

Ishteiwi said that clashes erupted between youths and Israeli soldiers following the raid; youths threw rocks and empty bottles, while Israeli snipers were deployed between olive fields.

Meanwhile in Bilin near Ramallah, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at protesters as they neared the separation wall, causing dozens to suffer from tear gas inhalation including Kuwaiti journalist Nayif Shahir, 45.

A Kuwaiti delegation of journalists led by author Fajir al-Said had participated in the protest.

In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian was injured in clashes with Israeli forces after military vehicles gathered near the border east of Khan Yunis.

Many villages in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem participate in weekly Friday protests, including Kafr Qaddum, Bilin, Nabi Saleh, Nillin, and al-Masara.

Israeli forces have come under repeated criticism for excessive use force as well as lethal methods of crowd control that often result in death or injury of protesters.

Two Palestinians have been shot dead during clashes between Palestinian civilians and Israeli military forces this month alone, among at least 50 to be killed in clashes since October.

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