NABLUS, Friday, March 26, 2021 (WAFA) – Israeli forces today cracked down on an anti-settlement-construction rally in Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus city, injuring a number of participants, according to witnesses.

They told WAFA that a large Israeli military force violently dispersed the participants of the rally called for to defend Palestinian-owned land threatened with confiscation, east of the village, to make room for Israeli colonial settlement construction.

Soldiers opened fire towards the participants, injuring three with rubber-coated steel bullets. One was hit in the head and immediately rushed to hospital, while the two others were treated at the scene.

Soldiers also showered the participants with tear gas canisters, causing dozens to suffocate.

A week earlier, on March 19, Israeli troops resorted to brutal force to disperse the participants, killing Atef Yousef Hanaysha, 45, with a live round in the head.

Beit Dajan has become a scene for weekly protests against the Israeli authorities move to construct new colonial settlements and expand existing ones at the expense of Palestinian territory.

Located 12 kilometers to the east of Nablus city, Beit Dajan has a population of some 4,700 and occupies a total area of 44,100 dunams, including 360 donums of built-up area for the villagers. A large part of the village lands were seized for the construction of Al-Hamra and Mekhora (Mehola) colonial settlements, east and southeast of the village, in 1971 and 1973.

The village depends on grains plantation and fruitful trees, such as olive, figs and almonds.

K.F.