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Two Palestinians Killed in Nakba Day Protests

Clashes after Israeli forces intervene in demonstrations in West Bank

by
Stephanie Butnick
May 15, 2014
Masked Palestinian protestors outside the Israeli-run Offer prison in the West Bank on May 15, 2014. (ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images)
Masked Palestinian protestors outside the Israeli-run Offer prison in the West Bank on May 15, 2014. (ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

Two Palestinian teens were shot and killed by Israeli forces today during clashes as police intervened in a Nakba Day demonstration, the AP reports. Palestinian protests and demonstrations frequently mark the May anniversary of what is known as the nakba, or catastrophe: the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel. Three protestors were also reportedly wounded as Israeli police dispersed stone throwers near a West Bank checkpoint.

Three Palestinians were wounded, one seriously, when Israeli troops fired to disperse stone throwers near an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank, said Dr. Samir Saliba, head of the emergency department at Ramallah Hospital.



Saliba said those killed were 15 and 17 years old and were shot by live rounds in the chest area. The seriously wounded protester was also shot in the upper body, he said.



Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said troops broke up a “disturbance” in the area, but did not use live fire.

Earlier today, Palestinians marched in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in commemoration of the anniversary.

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.