Israeli forces detain and attack Palestinians as Jerusalem protests continue

Israeli forces continued to attack Palestinians in Jerusalem on Saturday a day after widespread protests took place across occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

کد خبر: ۷۵۵۹۱۹

تاریخ: ۲۶ آذر ۱۳۹۶ - ۰۸:۳۵

Clashes erupted in Salah-al-Din street where protests were taking place. Israeli forces used tear gas to disband the protest and one activist was detained.

Israeli soldiers also used force to disperse protesters demonstrating outside Damascus Gate, one of the old gates in the old city of Jerusalem, injuring a journalist and a woman.

Eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since Trump's announcement on December 6, including four on Friday in one of the bloodiest days in two weeks.

On Saturday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party called for mass demonstrations against US Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Jerusalem next week.

It comes after President Donald Trump broke decades of US policy by recognising the city as Israel's capital and declaring he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The move stirred global condemnation and sparked protests across Arab and Muslim countries, as well as deadly clashes in the occupied territories between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

Trump's December 6 declaration has put the Palestinian plight further into a quagmire.

The controversial announcement has undermined the likelihood of a reconciliation, and damaged the already fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital, a position nearly the entire world rejects saying its status should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians

Jerusalem is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Arab leaders and others have reacted in anger.

Trump's move has been condemned worldwide and protests have taken place globally including in the US, UK, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Jordan.