‘28 Palestinians injured in Israeli raid’

RAMALLAH — Hundreds of Palestinian youths confronted Israeli soldiers who raided a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Monday, leaving 28 with gunshot injuries.

The Palestinian health ministry said 28 people were shot and wounded, including one in the head, during confrontations in Al Amari camp at the entrance to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

A squad of around 25 Israeli soldiers arrived in the camp, located on the edge of the city where the Palestinian Authority has its headquarters, early on Monday morning. 

Palestinian security sources said the army tried to arrest an official from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fateh Party, who managed to escape.

The Israeli army did not give a reason for their raid in the camp, speaking only of "operational activity".

Once in the streets of the camp, which is home to 15,000 Palestinians, youths confronted soldiers with stones and glass bottles.

The soldiers responded by firing rubber bullets and live ammunition.

An army spokeswoman said "dozens of rioters hurled homemade explosives and rocks at forces", although the AFP journalists saw no explosive devices.

"Forces called on the rioters to halt the assault using riot dispersal means. Upon the continued violence, the force responded, shooting towards the main instigators," the spokeswoman added.

The confrontations lasted for nearly three hours before troops left the camp. Some of the soldiers were picked up by military jeeps, while others left to a nearby Jewish settlement.

Palestinians followed them, blocking the main road from Ramallah to Jerusalem for about half an hour.