Multiple violent protests against Israeli conflict with Gaza erupt in West Bank

When an estimated 20,000 people marched from the Ramallah refugee camp towards Jerusalem, at least 2 persons were killed and 287 Palestinians were injured, 154 of them by live bullets. Soldiers shot live fire and rubber-coated steel bullets into the crowd of protesters, in addition to tear gas, when protesters set tires on fire and threw rocks, molotov cocktails and empty bottles.

Earlier, Palestinians had marched from al-Amari refugee camp toward the Qalandia checkpoint, a militarized crossing point between Ramallah and Jerusalem through Israel’s separation wall.

In a separate incident, clashes broke out in East Jerusalem as Israeli police barred Palestinian men under 50 from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, the last Friday of Ramadan, a day the holy site is typically packed with worshipers. At least 40 people were injured, some seriously. The confrontations continue at Hatta Gate and Council Gate, two of the entrances to the mosque.

In other developments, smaller confrontations with injuries took place in several location across the West Bank, including Abu Dis, Nablus, the Huwara military checkpoint, Qasra village south of Nablus, Sabastiya village west of Nablus, Qarawat Bani Husan village in Salfit, and Tulkarem.

Given the current turmoil surrounding the Israeli-Gaza conflict, travellers should reconsider their plans to travel in this area.