Two Palestinians killed, dozens injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers

Two Palestinian protesters have lost their lives and dozens others sustained injuries in another day of rage and clashes with Israeli soldiers in the occupied Palestinian territories over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesman, Ashraf al-Qidra, said 24-year-old Zakaria al-Kafarneh was struck with a bullet in his chest during clashes along the Gaza border (with Israel) north of Jabalia, and died shortly afterwards, Arabic-language Safa news agency reported.

Mohammed Nabeel Mohaisen, 26, was also killed by live gunshots during scuffles between dozens of youths and Israeli soldiers east of Gaza.

Additionally, hundreds of Gaza youths threw stones at Israeli forces east of Khan Younis. Eleven were shot and injured, and one was critically injured after he tried to cut the fence and throw stones at the soldiers.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old Palestinian succumbed to the injuries he had sustained during clashes with Israeli troops earlier this week, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Elsewhere in the central West Bank city of al-Bireh, located 15 kilometers north of Jerusalem al-Quds, skirmishes erupted between hundreds of young men and Israeli forces after Friday prayers.

Hundreds of Palestinian protesters also converged at the northern entrance to Beit El settlement, where they clashed with Israeli soldiers.

A number of protesters suffered breathing difficulties, red eyes and wheezing after Israeli forces hurled tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that two young men were wounded by live bullets, while another was severely beaten by Israeli troopers.

In the northern West Bank town of Budrus, located 31 kilometers northwest of Ramallah, clashes broke out between dozens of young Palestinian men and Israeli forces.

The Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers, who fired live bullets, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters in return.

Palestinian demonstrators also engaged in skirmishes with Israeli forces in the town of Silat ad-Dhahr, located 22 kilometers southwest of Jenin.

Similar clashes broke out in other West Bank towns and cities, including Nablus, Salfit and Beita.

On December 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in occupied lands from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli “capital.”

In an attempt to avert the resolution, Trump had warned that “we’re watching,” threatening reprisals against countries that back the measure, which earlier faced a US veto at the UN Security Council.

Israel, however, rejected the world body’s resolution while thanking Trump for his decision to move US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

Jerusalem al-Quds remains at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians hoping that the eastern part of the city would eventually serve as the capital of a future independent Palestinian state.