
NABLUS (Ma’an) — Four Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Friday, three by Israeli forces and one by an Israeli settler, amid widespread protests in solidarity with Gaza.
The four deaths on Friday come after a Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces late Thursday in clashes at Qalandia, bringing the total death toll in the West Bank to eight as thousands have marched in protest against the Israeli assault on Gaza over the last two weeks.
The victims were identified as Khaled Azmi Khaled Yousef, 18, Hashem Abu Maria, 47, Tayeb Abu Shehada, 22, and Sultan Al-Zaaqiq, 30.
Yousef was killed and three were injured on Friday when an Israeli settler opened fire at a protest march near Nablus, an official said.
In the village of Huwwara, Palestinians began marching in protest against Israel’s deadly offensive in Gaza when an Israeli settler drove by in a car and fired into the crowd, the mayor of the village said.
Khalid Mari Khalid Yousef, 18, died after being hit directly in the chest, a Ma’an reporter said, after Fatah spokesman Awwad Nijm said earlier that Yousef was critically injured.
Israeli forces who subsequently arrived on the scene got involved in the clashes, killing another Palestinian named Tayeb Abu Shehada, 22.
Nijm identified the other three injured as Tariq Issam, Muhammad Nasasrah, and Jihad Odeh.
Twenty Palestinians suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation, he added.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that “approximately 200 Palestinians gathered in the area and a riot erupted” as they “were hurling rocks.”
Although she was familiar with the report of an Israeli settler opening fire, she said that the police and border police were responsible in the area. However, spokesmen for both the police and the border police denied any knowledge of the incidents.
In Beit Ummar, Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers in protest of Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Hashem Abu Maria, 47, was shot in the chest by Israeli forces and died soon after.
Sultan al-Zaaqiq, 30, was also slain by Israeli forces during the clashes.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was looking into the incident.
via 4 Palestinians killed in West Bank amid protests against Gaza assault | Maan News Agency.
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