Palestinians clash with IDF while marking Nakba Day (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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Published time: May 15, 2012 15:35
Edited time: May 15, 2012 23:14

A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah May 15, 2012 (Reuters/Darren Whiteside)

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Conflict, Israel, Matt Trezza, Middle East, Paula Slier, Protest

Clashes have broken out between protesters and Israeli security forces, as Palestinians mark Nakba - or Catastrophe – Day with rallies and a general strike in the West Bank. Dozens are said to be injured.

More than 80 Palestinians have been injured in Ramallah, where the most violent clashes are reported on a day which marks establishment of Israel 64 years ago, but also reminds Palestinians of their ensuing exodus.

Sixty-three Palestinians were injured outside Ofer prison and 21 were wounded at the Qalandiya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem, local Ma'an News agency reports, citing medics.

Israeli forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets in response to protesters who started throwing stones and firebombs at IDF and Israeli civilians.

Annual commemoration of Palestinians’ mass displacement has also turned violent at a checkpoint near the Cave of the Patriarch in Hebron, where Palestinians rioted and burned tires.

In the city of Gaza, thousands of demonstrators headed to UN Headquarters carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israel.

The Israeli military along the Gaza border remain on high alert as there are fears that commemoration could descend into more violence as the day progresses.

Several arrests were reported in cities across the West Bank.

Nakba Day, commemorated annually on May 15, is normally marked by protest, and often by clashes with Israelis in the Palestinian territories.

Last year such protests saw violent clashes that left a dozen people killed.

The 64th anniversary of the Nakba comes after nearly two decades of failed efforts to negotiate the terms of a Palestinian state with Israel.

Watch Paula Slier’s report about a woman who understands why Nakba Day means so much for the Palestinians, but is also able to empathize with the Israelis.

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Palestinians take part in a rally marking Nakba in the West Bank city of Ramallah May 15, 2012 (Reuters/Mohamad Torokman)

A Palestinian protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops during clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and Israeli security forces outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah May 15, 2012 (Reuters/Darren Whiteside)

A medic carries an injured Palestinian boy during clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and Israeli troops outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah May 15, 2012 (Reuters/Darren Whiteside)

An injured Palestinian protester is carried away during clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and Israeli troops outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah May 15, 2012 (Reuters/Darren Whiteside)

An Israeli police officer puts out the fire from burning Israeli flags during minor clashes between Palestinian stone-throwers and police in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya May 15, 2012 (Reuters / Ammar Awad)

(Reuters / Mohamad Torokman)

(Reuters / Ammar Awad)

(Reuters / Mohamad Torokman)

Comments (12)

joseph walker (unregistered) 16.05.2012 07:43

Mostly youths,thier parents should be interested in the education of thier kids,not bringing them up as hooligans with no prospect for thier lives.

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mario (unregistered) 16.05.2012 06:35

Sara (unregistered) wrote in #6@ Norwegian Zionist. I don't believe you are a Zionist at all. Is this the training that you get now to make the Israelis look horrid and guilty of the very things the other side is guilty of? You should go back for more training as you are not so good at pulling this lie off. .............. .................... .....REPLY.......... ...................T he israhelli jews are horrid and child murderers they have been committing genocide against the indigenous people of Palestine for decades. All the training in the world will not help conceal your devious Zionist nature!

+10

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6 million lies (unregistered) 16.05.2012 06:16

Norwegen (unregistered) wrote in #2The Palestinians doesn't have to be allowed back into Israel and to their homes! It was after all a tactic from the Arab side to extract the Arabs so that they could destroy every Jewish home "statements" from Arab leaders after the war. They wanted to get the Arabs out so that they wouldn't be killed in the fighting between Jews and Arabs, but they didn't expect Israel to win and now they complain that the Jews expelled them from Judea.-------------- -------------------- ----------------- { {{{{{{{{{ The “Norwegen” who posts comments here is like other jews, devilish chameleons, they blend in the background and you never know when they going to raise their head.

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