Israeli forces injure 2 Palestinians

Two Palestinians have been wounded in clashes with Israeli forces which broke out after the troops stormed the East al-Quds (Jerusalem) neighborhood of Silwan.

Clashes broke out on Wednesday in two districts after the Israeli forces stormed the neighborhood while the Palestinian residents had a gathering, AFP reported.

Policemen, wearing riot gear and gas masks taking shelter behind plastic shields, shot tear gas canisters towards those Palestinians running away.

According to witnesses, two Palestinians were hit in the legs by shrapnel from the stun grenades and were taken to a local hospital.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, however, denied reports that two were wounded.

The spokesperson confirmed that the police dispersed the gathering by using tear gas and stun grenades, but said no one was injured in the firing.

Border police, however, said one of its officers has also been injured.

Silwan, a crowded Arab neighborhood of about 45,000 Palestinians, has seen frequent clashes over Israeli mayor’s city plans to demolish several homes to make space for a biblical park.

It is one of the most volatile areas of East al-Quds where Israel occupied in the 1967 Six-Day War, and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community.