IOF soldiers quell peaceful Palestinian march

AL-KHALIL, — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) quelled afternoon Saturday a peaceful Palestinian march in Beit Ummar village, north of Al-Khalil, and beat up many of its participants.

Local sources said that the IOF soldiers used violence to quell the weekly march in solidarity with farmers whose lands are adjacent to an Israeli settlement and are banned from cultivating them.

They said that the soldiers fired gas and sonic bombs at the march, in which foreign activists participated, and added that tens were treated for breathing difficulties while a Palestinian activist was hit with a gas bomb in his face.

In Al-Khalil city, a society against Israeli settlement activity and occupation organized its weekly sit-in with the participation of dozens of citizens and foreign activists.

Participants hoisted Palestinian flags and slogans against occupation and presence of settlers in the city before marching in the Old City of Al-Khalil.

IOF soldiers went on provocative patrols in the Old City and in the villages of Beit Ummar and Al-Arub refugee camp to the north of the city.