UPDATES WITH ADDITIONAL INFO, INJURY TOLL, BACKGROUND
By Mehmet Nuri Ucar
JERUSALEM, Palestine (AA) - Israeli troops are using live ammunition and teargas to disperse Palestinian protests in different parts of the occupied West Bank and in East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents at the scene.
Thousands of Palestinian held 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, live ammunition and excessive amounts of teargas.
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.
The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported that at least 15 Palestinians had been injured by rubber bullets, while at least 50 others had been subject to gas inhalation.
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 attempted to disperse protesters using live ammunition and teargas.
The Palestinian Red Crescent says it provided medical treatment to at least one Palestinian who was reportedly beaten by Israeli troops.
The Israeli authorities on Friday stepped up security in occupied East Jerusalem in anticipation of Palestinian demonstrations against the U.S. move.
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.