Israeli forces injured, on Friday, several Palestinian civilians, at the weekly procession against Israeli colonization in Kufur Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilia in the northwestern part of the occupied West Bank, according to a local activist.
Hundreds of local Palestinians gathered to perform the Friday prayer at the local Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque, and from their marched to the main road of the town, which was closed by the occupation in 2003.
According to Morad Eshteiwi, the media spokesperson of the Popular Committee in Qalqilia, said that the participants marched while repeating slogans of condemnation of the crimes of the occupation, and urging an increase in popular resistance.
Eshteiwi added that soldiers opened fire with tear gas canisters and rubber-coated steel rounds, injuring a number of non-violent demonstrators.
He said that at least six people were shot and injured with rubber-coated steel rounds, while many others suffered the toxic effects of tear gas inhalation.
Unarmed Palestinian youths confronted the heavily armed invading soldiers by hurling rocks. All of those who were injured were treated at the scene by local medics.
Video from J Media
Israeli colonists from the nearby illegal Kedumin settlement, established on expropriated Palestinian lands, have full access to the street, while Palestinians are forced to take longer routes to Nablus city, the nearest major commercial center, prolonging travel time and causing undue hardship.
Palestinian villagers from Kufur Qaddoum and the surrounding area have rallied every Friday since 2003 to demand that Israeli occupation authorities reopen the road.
