Nakba Day violence strikes in W. Bank, Gaza, e. J'lem

Palestinians report 45 injured by IDF fire in northern Gaza; several W. Bank rioters arrested; Israelis injured as demonstrators throw rocks.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
nakba day damascus gate 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
nakba day damascus gate 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Some 45 Palestinian Nakba Day protesters were wounded when the IDF opened fire on the Gaza border on Sunday, according to Palestinian medics. The protesters had approached the border in northern Gaza.

Earlier Sunday, four Palestinians were arrested during a Nakba Day protest near Bethlehem. Protests were also underway in Beit Omar and Nebi Salah, and three Nakba Day demonstrators were arrested in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya for throwing stones. Police forces, with the aid of a helicopter, managed to disperse the stone-throwers who fled into the village. There were no reports of injuries in the incident.
RELATED:IDF on Lebanon alert for Nakba Day demonstrationsSecurity and Defense: Bracing for mass protestsTA: 1 dead, 17 hurt in suspected truck terror attack
In addition, Molotov cocktails were thrown at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus, lightly injuring one policeman.
Also in east Jerusalem, an 18-year-old Israeli man was injured when stones were thrown at his car in A-Tur. A masked man in A-Tur was arrested after throwing a Molotov cocktail.
About 100 Palestinians clashed with IDF soldiers at the Kalandiya crossing; no injuries were reported.
Police reported a total of 36 protesters arrested in Nakba Day demonstrations. Four policemen were injured in the various incidents.
Nearly 10,000 border police officers were stationed throughout the country in cities with Arab and Jewish populations and areas where conflict was expected in light of Nakba Day. Police were asked to show restraint and not release live fire, unless there was a real threat to human life.
Increased security in east Jerusalem and surrounding areas was expected to continue for the next few days.
Tensions rose in east Jerusalem this weekend following the shooting death of a Palestinian youth during a riot in the capital’s Silwan neighborhood.
At police headquarters in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, Insp.-Gen. Yochanan Danino spoke with intelligence officials and commanders from the Border Police, the Operations Branch and the Jerusalem district, and drew up final plans for Sunday.