RAMALLAH, December 20, 2017 (WAFA) – Thousands of Palestinians gathered on Wednesday at various locations throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip heeding calls to rally against the US decision declaring Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

The call was made to coincide with a visit to the region for US Vice President Mike Pence, which was postponed at the last minute.

The Palestinian national and Islamic forces called for mass rallies in all the Palestinian cities after which participant would walk to contact points with Israeli soldiers.

Clashes are expected when the marchers reach the contact points as the soldiers are expected to shower them with tear gas even before they reach these points in order to disperse them.

The Palestinian government dismissed all employees after a half day of work to allow for as many people as possible to participate in the marches.

Participants carrying Palestinian flags gathered in Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus and Gaza to express their defiance of the US decision, which prompted the Palestinian Authority to dismiss any further role for the US in the peace process and to refuse to meet any of its officials.

M.K.