Clashes erupt between Israeli forces and Palestinians in Sair, al-Khader

Clashes broke out on Monday night between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the Hebron-area village of Sair and the Bethlehem-area village of al-Khader, both in the southern occupied West Bank.

کد خبر: ۷۱۵۵۴۶

تاریخ: ۰۳ مرداد ۱۳۹۶ - ۱۳:۴۶

Locals in Sair told Ma’an that Israeli forces stormed the al-Duwwara area of the town, prompting young men to throw stones at them. Israeli forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at the Palestinians.

In al-Khader, Israeli forces stormed the cemetery and Martyr Street in the old town, located close to Israeli settler bypass road Route 60 that connects Hebron to Jerusalem.

According to locals, Israeli forces showered the area in tear gas and stun grenades. Young Palestinian men threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps. No casualties were reported in the clashes, which continued until around midnight.

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports. Violent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians have been a daily occurrence across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, ever since Israeli forces installed metal detectors and security cameras at the Al-Aqsa following a deadly shootout at the holy site on July 14.

The move sparked protests from Palestinians, who said it was the latest example of Israeli authorities using Israeli-Palestinian violence as a means of furthering control over important sites in the occupied Palestinian territory and normalizing repressive measures against Palestinians.

On Tuesday, Israeli authorities announced that they would be taking down the metal detectors, only to be replace by more advanced surveillance technology in the Old City of East Jerusalem.

Religious leaders in Jerusalem held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the new Israeli plan, with some telling Ma’an that despite the announced change, both religious leaders and the Palestinians "wouldn’t accept any changes to the status quo.”

According to Ma’an documentation, seven Palestinians have been killed by Israelis since the metal detectors were installed, four of whom were killed during clashes with Israeli forces. The Palestinian Red Crescent released a statement on Monday saying that 1,090 Palestinians had been injured since Israeli forces began violently suppressing demonstrations and marches against the procedures at Al-Aqsa.