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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- A number of Palestinians were injured, some with live fire, while others were detained by Israeli forces as clashes erupted across the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the 11th day of the “Freedom and Dignity” hunger strike.

The clashes came one day before what is supposed to be a Day of Rage on April 28, called for by the Fatah movement, during which Palestinians are expected to clash with Israeli forces in order to show their solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners’ movement.

Hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel have been participating in the hunger strike led by senior Fatah official Marwan Barghouthi since April 17 to protest the torture, ill treatment, and medical neglect of prisoners at the hands of Israeli authorities, as well as Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention -- internment without trial or charges.

Ramallah district

Nine Palestinians were injured, including six with live fire and three with rubber-coated steel bullets, during clashes that erupted near the Beit El military checkpoint at the northern entrance of al-Bireh city in the central occupied West Bank.

Locals told Ma’an that one youth was injured with live fire in the stomach and foot, another was injured with two live bullets in the back and leg, while four others with injured with live fire in the legs.

Three youths were injured with rubber-coated steel bullets, including one youth with an injury to the face.

Clashes erupted at the checkpoint, located next to the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit El, between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces.

Palestinian youths threw rocks as soldiers opened live fire, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear-gas on the youth.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces detained five Palestinians, including an injured youth, on during clashes near the Ofer prison in western Ramallah.

Clashes erupted between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces following a march in solidarity with hunger-striking prisoners.

Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear-gas bombs while youths threw rocks at armed forces.

Five unidentified Palestinians, one of whom locals said was an injured youth, were assaulted by Israeli forces and taken into Ofer detention center.

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports of the clashes and detentions.

Bethlehem district

In the town of Tuqu, located southeast of Bethlehem city in the southern West Bank, hundreds of Palestinians marched in solidarity with hunger-striking prisoners.

The march, led by masked youths, went through the streets of the town, with protesters holding signs of support prisoners.

Speeches delivered during the march by town leaders stressed on supporting prisoners and Palestinian national unity.

Youths set fire to tires when the march arrived to the Tuqu municipality and threw rocks at Israeli soldiers deployed in the area.

Clashes erupted in several sites across the town afterwards, with Israeli soldiers opening live fire, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear-gas bombs onto protesters.

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.

Hebron district

Two Palestinians were injured during clashes that erupted in the Bab al-Zawiyeh area of Hebron city in the southern West Bank, while several others suffered from severe tear-gas inhalation.

Dozens of Palestinian youths threw rocks and empty bottles at the Israeli military tower at the entrance of the al-Shuhada Street in Hebron’s old city, while soldiers fired tear-gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at youth.
An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.

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