BETHLEHEM, March 6, 2016 (WAFA) – A Palestinian youth Sunday was shot and injured with a rubber-coated steel bullet during clashes with Israeli army in the town of al-Khader to the south of Bethlehem, according to security sources.

Large military forces reportedly stormed the town of al-Khader in the pre-dawn hours, amid firing rubber baton rounds and tear gas canisters toward locals, leading to clashes, during which a youth was shot in the foot with a rubber bullet.

The youth was taken to hospital, where his condition was described as moderate.

Forces further raided several homes and summoned three locals to appear for interrogation.

At least 185 Palestinian, including 43 children, and nine women have been killed by Israeli forces’ fire since the outbreak of violence across the Palestinian territories in early October 2015, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The ministry explained that since the beginning of 2016,  42 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, including 16 minors and a woman.

“There is mounting evidence that, as tensions have risen dramatically, in some cases Israeli forces appear to have ripped up the rulebook and resorted to extreme and unlawful measures. They seem increasingly prone to using lethal force against anyone they perceive as posing a threat, without ensuring that the threat is real,” said Amnesty International, a human rights non-governmental organization.

T.R.