RAMALLAH, February 9, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Friday afternoon violently suppressed a rally protesting the confiscation of Palestinian land for settlement construction in al-Mazra‘a al-Gharbiyya village, west of Ramallah, said WAFA correspondent.

Israeli forces cracked down on Palestinians who rallied to their lands, which were illegally seized by Israel for the construction of a settler-only by-pass road, opening fire towards them.

They shot and injured a protestor with a live round and caused dozens others to suffer from excessive tear gas inhalation.

Soldiers also attacked and briefly held reporters and photojournalists, preventing them from covering the unfolding events.

Chairman of the Committee against the Wall and Settlements Walid Assaf, who marched in the rally, said the rally was organized to protest the construction of a settlers-only road on Palestinian lands.

 The road reportedly would connect the Israeli settlements of Ateret, Halamish and Telmon together, isolating hundreds of dunums of Palestinian land.

“We are practicing our right to nonviolent resistance to defend our lands and property. We will continue to engage in popular resistance against the Israeli settler colonialist enterprise,” Assaf said.