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Photo: Sagi Ben Yaakov
Photo: Sagi Ben Yaakov
Photo: Sagi Ben Yaakov

US condems West Bank arson amid escalating violence

Israelis attacked in drive by shooting after arson that killed Palestinian baby overnight; Hamas calls for demonstrations in West Bank leading to clashes with police.

The United States officially condemned Friday an attack in the West Bank town of Duma where suspected Jewish settlers burned down a Palestinian home, killing a baby and critically wounding additional family members.

 

 

The remarks from the US came amidst a day of tension and fears of severe escalation in the West Bank.

 

Riots in the West Bank Friday. (Photo: AFP) (Photo: AFP)
Riots in the West Bank Friday. (Photo: AFP)
 

 

Two Israelis were fired upon from a passing vehicle in the West Bank in the afternoon while driving to Jerusalem, just hours after Hamas called on Palestinians to take to the streets in protest against the attack in Duma.

 

Neither of the Israelis were harmed in the attack, but the vehicle was damaged by the gun fire.

 

Photo: Sagi Ben Yaakov (Photo: Sagi Ben Yaakov)
Photo: Sagi Ben Yaakov

 

Yona Betzalel, one of the Israelis traveling in the car, said the gun shots had come from a vehicle passing in the opposite direction. "We heard gun fire. The driver stopped immediately; neither of us were hurt. I pulled out my pistol and the driver pulled out his rifle and we ran at the car that had fired at us. I fired in the air and the driver shot at their car."

 

The duo was apparently unable to stop the vehicle however, and IDF troops were rushed to the scene to begin searching for the perpetrators.

 

A suspected act of arson also occurred near the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar in wake of the attack overnight that killed 18-month-old Palestinian Ali Dawabsheh and put his parents and brother in critical condition in the hospital.

 

Brush fire near Yitzhar.
Brush fire near Yitzhar.
 

 

Two fire trucks were brought to the scene to combat the flames.

 

Additional clashes and protests erupted in the West Bank Friday, giving rise to intense fears of further escalation.

 

Riots first began in Jerusalem where Hamas had already declared a "Day of Rage" following clashes at the Temple Mount. The Palestinian organization based in Gaza then called on West Bank residents to demonstrate in response to the Duma attack.

 

Demonstrations at the funeral of Palestinian baby Ali Dawabsheh.

Funeral    (צילום: חסן שעלאן)

Funeral

סגורסגור

שליחה לחבר

 הקלידו את הקוד המוצג
תמונה חדשה

שלח
הסרטון נשלח לחברך

סגורסגור

הטמעת הסרטון באתר שלך

 קוד להטמעה:

 

A Palestinian was seriously wounded in the chest by gunfire from IDF troops in the late afternoon after he threw a fire bomb at security forces near Birzeit north of Ramallah.

 

No soldiers were reported wounded in the incident. 

 

One police officer was lightly wounded by broken glass from a bottle thrown at security forces in the Old City of Jerusalem alongside rocks and other objects. One Palestinian was arrested.

 

Several young Palestinians threw rocks at the entrance to Qalandiya, just north of Jerusalem. Israel border police responded with tear gas, dispersing the crowd.

 

In the Isawiya neighborhood in East Jerusalem, border police clashed with dozens of Palestinians who threw fire bombs and stones at security forces. The rioters were met with riot-control measures and pushed back toward the center of the neighborhood.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.31.15, 18:32
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