70 Injured in West Bank during Clashes Marking Arafat's Death
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Dozens of Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank Wednesday, the anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian health ministry said.
At least four people were wounded by live ammunition in Al-Bireh, near Ramallah, the ministry said, adding that doctors were operating to try to save the life of one person shot in the heart.
Another six Palestinians were hit with live ammunition in clashes in the city of Tulkarem, north of Tel Aviv.
In total, "62 citizens were injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets during clashes with the (Israeli) occupation in Tulkarem, Ramallah, Al-Bireh and Bethlehem," AFP reported.
Hundreds of Palestinians, flanked by a yellow truck playing nationalist songs, marched towards Israeli forces in Al-Bireh, with youths throwing stones and rolling burning tires towards security forces.
Those forces fired tear gas and live ammunition at the crowds in a bid to disperse them.
In Gaza City, around 2,000 Palestinians protested outside the offices of the United Nations. There were no reports of violence.
Wednesday's protests came amid a weeks-long wave of violence by Israeli forces which has claimed the lives of at least 77 Palestinians.
'The whole truth'
The long-time Palestinian leader, aged 75, died in 2004 at a military hospital near Paris after developing stomach pains while at his headquarters in Ramallah.
Palestinian officials have repeatedly pointed the finger at Israel for his death, with accusations of polonium poisoning.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said a commission of inquiry investigating Arafat’s death has “come a long way” but was not yet ready to release a final report.
Speaking on official television, he said many of the circumstances were still a mystery but we “assure our people the committee will continue its work until it discovers the whole truth.”
