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Scene. Published by Maan News
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QALQILIYA (Ma'an) -- Nine protesters, including a Norwegian activist and a Palestinian child, were shot and injured by Israeli forces suppressing the peaceful weekly anti-settlement march in the Kafr Qaddum village in the northern occupied West Bank district of Qalqiliya.

Murad Ishteiwi, coordinator of the Popular Resistance in the village, said that Israeli forces opened fired live bullets and rubber-coated steel bullets towards protesters in an attempt to disperse them.

Ishteiwi confirmed that nine protesters were injured and suffered various injuries; among the injured was a child and a Norwegian pro-Palestine activist who were immediately transferred to a hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.

The Norwegian activist, whose identity remained unknown, is reportedly in a moderate condition. However, the condition of the injured 8-year-old, who was identified as Mumen Murad, remained unknown.

Israeli forces also attempted to detain Palestinian youths, but failed to do so as clashes erupted between youths and Israeli forces in the village.

Ishteiwi called upon the international community and humans rights organizations to immediately intervene to protect Palestinian youths.

Residents of Kafr Qaddum began staging weekly protests in 2011 against Israeli land confiscations, as well as the closure of the village's southern road by Israeli forces. The road, which has been closed for 14 years, is the main route to the nearby city of Nablus, the nearest economic center.

The Israeli army blocked off the road after expanding the illegal Israeli settlement of Kedumim in 2003, forcing village residents to take a bypass road in order to travel to Nablus, which has extended the travel time to Nablus from 15 minutes to 40 minutes, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.