Israeli forces disperse peaceful Palestinian rally in Hebron

Ma'an -- Israeli forces dispersed on Tuesday a non-violent rally against settlement construction and closure of shops in the center of the southern West Bank city of HebronIsraeli soldiers fired stun grenades and tear-gas canisters at the protestors, hurting many of them as they inhaled tear gas. Troops also closed the area of Ash-Shallalah street and the old Hebron building municipality. The area was announced a closed military zone, and Palestinian presence was considered a violation of military orders.

The rally was initiated by a local group of Hebron youth called the Coalition Against Settlements.

Protestors marched from Bab Az-Zawiya neighborhood toward Ash-Shuhada street. International solidarity activists joined the rally raising slogans demanding evacuation of Israeli settlers from the heart of the southern West Bank city, and re-opening its streets.

Separately, troops ransacked a printer in As-Salam street in Hebron, confiscating property. No arrests were reported.

In the nearby town of Beit Ummar, a few kilometers to the north, Israeli forces raided the home of 20-year-old Muhammad Ahmad Abu Mariyya in the early morning and detained him.

On Monday, soldiers stormed a funeral procession in the town and assaulted four young men. Spokesperson of the town’s popular committees, Muhammad Ayyad Awad, said four young men were stopped at the funeral, taken to a military monitoring tower near the northern entrance where the soldiers beat them.

He added that some soldiers tried to confiscate a camera he was using.