A Palestinian bride was seen being driven in a car today while smoke billowed from flaming tyres just yards away in the West Bank.
Her wedding day came amid clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of Ramallah.
Beit El is at the forefront of the Israeli settlement project, and has led to a heightened state of tension.
A Palestinian bride was seen being driven in a car today while smoke billowed from flaming tyres just yards away in the West Bank
Her wedding day came amid clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of Ramallah
The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, which they say is being rapidly eroded by Israeli settlement growth throughout the West Bank
Beit El is at the forefront of the Israeli settlement project, and has led to a heightened state of tension
The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, which they say is being rapidly eroded by Israeli settlement growth throughout the West Bank.
More than 400,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians converged on the Gaza Strip’s border fence with Israel today.
They tried to rip through it before drawing heavy Israeli fire in one of the most violent incidents yet in five weeks of protests. Three Palestinians were killed and dozens were reported wounded.
The violence came shortly after a top U.N. official urged Israel to refrain from using excessive force against the protesters.
At least 38 protesters have been killed by Israeli live fire and more than 1,600 wounded in the weekly protests since they began on March 30.
Hundreds of Palestinians converged on the Gaza Strip’s border fence with Israel today (pictured). They tried to rip through it before drawing heavy Israeli fire in one of the most violent incidents yet in five weeks of protests. Three Palestinians were killed and dozens were reported wounded
Israel has rejected the international criticism, saying it is defending its sovereign border and accusing Gaza’s Hamas leaders, who are organising the protests, of using the crowds as cover to carry out attacks.
In Friday’s unrest, a large crowd gathered a few hundred yards from the border, with some throwing stones and setting tyres on fire in what has become a weekly occurrence.
Thousands have taken part in the Friday demonstrations from five protest tent camps, each set up several hundred yards from the border fence.
Israeli officials have said that some of the protesters in recent weeks tried to damage the border fence or plant explosives along it. Others have tried to set Israeli fields on fire on the other side of the fence by hurling improvised explosives or firebombs, or flying flaming kites.
Israel and Egypt imposed the Gaza blockade in 2007, in response to a violent takeover of the territory by Hamas, which had won Palestinian parliament elections a year earlier.
The blockade has gutted Gaza’s economy, driving up unemployment and leaving two-thirds of young people without jobs.
Hamas’ Interior Ministry announced that Egypt had agreed to open the Rafah border crossing for three days, beginning Saturday. The temporary opening is the second this month.
Thousands have taken part in the Friday demonstrations from five protest tent camps, each set up several hundred yards from the border fence