RAMALLAH: Protests continue in the occupied West Bank as Palestinians clash with Israeli forces, specifically Ofer prison near Ramallah and Hebron. Ofer Prison Yesterday, hundreds demonstrators marched from Bir Zeit University to Ofer prison where they reportedly “hurled rocks, firebombs and burning tires at Israeli forces, who responded with riot dispersal means," according to an Israeli spokesperson. The “riot dispersal means" consisted of tear gas and the use of rubber bullets. Eleven people were injured; six of which were hit by rubber bullets. Recently, protestors have been gathering outside a solidarity tent at the occupied West Bank's oldest university and marching towards Ofer. The demonstrations are meant to display support of Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli custody. Today, the area surrounding the solidarity tent was seemingly calm. Bethlehem In Bethlehem, two teenage boys were shot with rubber bullets and subsequently placed in intensive care. Accordingly to Ma'an News, 150 Palestinian protestors threw firebombs and rocks at soldiers who, with officer approval, fired live ammunition in response. The clash occurred near Rachel's Tomb. Muhammad Khalid al-Kirdi, a 13 year old, was hit with live fire in the back and foot. He was taken to a hospital in nearby Bet Jala to have the bullets removed. His family reports that he is in serious but stable condition. Odai Sarhan, a 16 year old* boy from the Aida refugee camp, was shot in the head. According to the Palestinian News Network, he is no longer able to breathe without the aid of machines. His recovery is unlikely. Sources report that medical personnel were not allowed to administer adequate care before Sarhan was taken to the hospital. Hebron Hebron has been the site of many violent clashes since the death of Arafat Jadarat, the Palestinian prisoner who was reportedly tortured to death by Israeli forces. Yesterday, the funeral of Jadarat took place with hundreds of Palestinians gathering to see the procession. Gunmen from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a coalition of armed Palestinian groups most recently linked with Hamas, fired shots into the air during the funeral. According to Ma'an News, Jadarat's pregnant wife and mother fainted as his body passed. Regarding the recent upheaval in Palestine, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted as saying “the Israelis want chaos…..We will not allow them to drag us into it and to mess with the lives of our children and our youth. We lost Arafat Jaradat who was arrested and came back in a coffin and this cannot pass lightly. We will not allow them to keep our prisoners in jails all their lives for crimes they didn't commit.” The United Nations has demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Jadarat's death.
*Reports vary between 12 and 16 of age. More once it is confirmed BN
