RAMALLAH, November 11, 2014 – (WAFA) – As thousands of Palestinians rallied to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Tuesday, a Palestinian youth was shot dead, while hundreds suffocated by tear gas as Israeli forces violently suppressed the rallies, leading to confrontations across the West Bank and in Jerusalem.

Palestinians of all ages took part in rallies and processions held across the West Bank cities and the Diaspora to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. They waived Palestinian flags and held portraits of Arafat.

In Hebron area, Muhammad Jawabra, 21, was shot dead by an Israeli sniper in al-Arroub refugee camp to the north of the city after Israeli forces attacked a rally commemorating Arafat’s death, leading to confrontations.

Jawabra was shot with a sniper’s live bullet that pierced the diaphragm while he was on the roof of his home, causing him critical injuries that caused his death hours later.

Forces also attacked other rallies commemorating Arafat’s death near Tarek junction in downtown Hebron, in Beir Inun junction, refugee camps of al-Fawwar and al-Arrub.

Forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets as well as tear gas and acoustic canisters toward the rallies, shooting and injuring several locals and causing dozens others to suffer from tear gas inhalation.

Soldiers closed the metal road gate controlling movement at the entrance of al-Fawwar camp, preventing locals from driving their cars into and out of the camp.

In a related incident, soldiers raided Beit Ummar to the north of the city, attacking the rallies with tear gas and acoustic canisters, causing tens of suffocations cases that were all treated at the scene.

Forces also broke into two houses in the area, sparking clashes with locals; soldiers fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets, causing dozens to suffocate.

Meanwhile in Bethlehem district, students organized similar rallies in Taqu‘, Dar Salah, al-Ma‘sara and Dheisheh refugee camp.

Israeli forces crushed the rallies, firing tear gas canisters and stun grenades towards students, leading to clashes and causing several students to suffer from tear gas inhalation.

In Taqu‘, soldiers took over the rooftops of three Palestinian homes and turned them into military surveillance outposts, said Mayor of Taqu‘Tayseer Abu Mafer. They also broke into the town’s boys’ school, ransacking and causing substantial damage to doors and some classrooms.

Soldiers opened fire on the teaching staff in an attempt to intimidate and prevent them from accessing the school.

In Jerusalem, clashes also erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces near the entrance of Shu‘fat refugee camp; soldiers stationed at al-Ma‘bar checkpoint at the entrance of the camp fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters toward a rally commemorating Arafat’s death, shooting and injuring many and causing several others to suffocate by tear gas inhalation.

Meanwhile in Nablus district, Israeli soldiers attacked a similar rally organized by students in Beit Furiq area to the east of the city; soldiers opened live fire on students, injuring two students.

Ali Hanini, 15, and Mu’ayyad Rif‘at, were hit with live ammunition in the legs. They were admitted into Rafidya hospital for medical treatment.

K.F./T.R.