Israel uses force to disperse Palestinian protests

Israeli troops are using live ammunition and teargas to disperse Palestinian protests, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents at the scene. 

Thousands of Palestinian staged rallies across the West Bank and East Jerusalem after Friday prayers to protest the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump -- announced Wednesday -- to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. 

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, hundreds of Palestinians marched from the city center to Israel’s Bet Eil army checkpoint after Friday prayers. 

In several instances, Israeli forces have responded to the protests with rubber bullets and excessive amounts of teargas. In some cases, they have fired live ammunition into the air in an effort to disperse demonstrators.

Clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces have been reported across the West Bank, including the cities of Hebron (Al-Khalil), Bethlehem, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqiliya and Jericho. 

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC), at least one Palestinian was injured by live ammunition during clashes near the Al-Arroub refugee camp near Hebron.

In a statement, the PRC also said at least 12 Palestinians had been injured by rubber bullets in the village of Kafr Qaddoum near Nablus while three others had sustained similar injuries in Bethlehem.

"At least 72 others have suffered excessive teargas inhalation across the West Bank, including 40 in the village of Kasra, while 21 more have been injured by rubber bullets," read the statement.

In Jerusalem, meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians marched from the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to the Bab al-Amoud (also known as the Damascus Gate) shouting slogans against the U.S. move and stressing Jerusalem’s Arabic and Islamic identity. 

Here, too, Israeli police have tried to disperse protesters using excessive amounts of teargas and firing live ammunition into the air. 

The PRC says it provided medical treatment to at least one Palestinian who was reportedly beaten by Israeli soldiers. 

The Israeli authorities on Friday dramatically stepped up security in and around East Jerusalem in anticipation of widespread Palestinian demonstrations. 

On Wednesday, the U.S. president announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate Washington’s Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 

The dramatic shift in U.S. policy sparked demonstrations on Thursday in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and in some other Muslim countries. 

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.