BETHLEHEM, April 11, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday attacked a school with tear gas canisters in Nahalin town, west of Bethlehem, said a municipal source.

The town’s deputy mayor Hani Fannun told WAFA that Israeli forces raided the town, particularly the schools area and surrounded Nahalin Secondary Boys School.

He said the soldiers fired a barrage of tear gas canisters at the school causing panic among the students and a number of suffocation cases.

He said that residents attempted to take their children from the school, but were prevented by the soldiers.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces broke into Sebastia, north of the West Bank, to provide protection for hundreds of settlers who stormed the town’s archeological site, triggering clashes.

Sebastia mayor Mohammed Azem told WAFA that soldiers entered the town to facilitate entry of three busloads of fanatics Jewish settlers to the archeological site where they held religious rituals.

Residents confronted the settlers and soldiers who fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes and schools causing a number of residents and school children to suffocate.

Sebastia officials fear the settlers plan to take over the archeological site, considered one of the main Palestinian tourist attractions where John the Baptist is believed buried.

K.F./M.K.