Israeli forces disperse Beit Ummar rally near Hebron, several hit by teargas cannisters; 21-year-old British woman taken to hospital

Ma'an – Israeli soldiers forcibly dispersed a rally against settlement expansion in Beit Ummar village in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, participants said.

Palestine Solidarity Project spokesman Muhammad Ayyad Awad said Israeli soldiers and border guards fired tear-gas canisters and stun grenades at demonstrators as they rallied against further construction of the nearby Karmi Zur settlement.

Awwad further said a 21-year-old British national sustained bruises to the head and back after being hit by a tear-gas canister and stun grenade, adding that she was taken to hospital for treatment. [In the past, several people have been killed and maimed by these cannisters.]

The spokesman added that Palestinian journalist Najih Hashlamoun fainted after being hit in the back with a tear-gas canister and that several suffered tear-gas inhalation.

Khader Zeidan, 65, was hospitalized after inhaling tear gas, Awwad added.

An Israeli military spokesman said he was not familiar with injuries, adding that Israeli forces deployed riot-dispersal means after rocks were hurled at them.