RAMALLAH/GAZA, Palestine, Feb 8 (NNN-WAFA) – U.S. President, Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan sparked a growing tension between Israelis and Palestinians in the past few days.
Palestinian political factions, on Friday, called on Palestinians to hold rallies and demonstrations all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, to protest against the peace plan, known as the ‘Deal of the Century.’
Meanwhile, Israeli army deployed more forces in the West Bank, after four Palestinians were killed and 15 Israeli soldiers injured, in a new wave of clashes there.
Two Palestinians were killed, when an Israeli army force stormed the West Bank city of Jenin, to demolish the home of a Hamas member, being held in an Israeli jail.
One Palestinian was killed by Israeli police in the old city of East Jerusalem, after he opened fire at the force and lightly wounded a police officer.
Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian young man, after he drove and ran over a group of Israeli soldiers on the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, injuring 14 of them.
Following the killing of a 17-year-old Palestinian teenager in the West Bank city of Hebron, during protests against the U.S., Hamas called for escalation against Israel.
“We call for an escalation of confrontation against the assaults of the occupier (Israel) and its settlers, on our land and holy sites in Jerusalem and the West Bank”, said Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesman in Gaza.
Meanwhile, an Israeli army spokesman said, the Israeli army will continue its efforts to restore security in the area and foil all assaults against Israeli citizens.
The statement coincided with reports that security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel has been reduced to the lowest level.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas’ office, condemned the killing of Palestinians on Wednesday and Thursday, in the West Bank cities of Jenin and Hebron.
“The Israeli escalation against our people in the West Bank is dangerous and this escalation is the outcome of the Deal of the Century,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman of Palestinian president, in the statement.
“Any deal that doesn’t meet the rights of our people and doesn’t aim at making just and comprehensive peace, will certainly lead to an escalation of violence,” he noted.
Mahmoud Aloul, deputy chairman of Abbas’ Fatah party, told reporters that, Netanyahu made remarks, as clear signal that “Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories will be eternal.”– NNN-WAFA
