Palestinians react angrily to a strong Israeli police presence in East Jerusalem

2014-07-04 1

Immediately after the burial of sixteen-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khdeir, hundreds of young Palestinians took to the streets of Shuafat in East Jerusalem.

Clashes erupted in the same region, close to the teenager’s house, shortly afterwards and reportedly continued for more than three hours.

According to sources from the Red Cross, between 60 and 70 people had suffered minor injuries by 18:00 local time.

Angry protesters threw stones at the Israeli police, who retaliated with teargas and stun grenades.

“We’re here to show our support for the family of this young Palestinian who was killed by Israeli settlers,” one man said. “This boy didn’t do Israel, nor anyone else, any harm.”

There was also some conflict in Ramallah – the administrative capital of the Palestinian territories – on Friday, although rocket fire from the Gaza strip across the border into Israel eased off.

Grievances run deep, as our correspondent Luis Carballo reported from East Jerusalem:
“The murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir has awakened old demons in the district of Shuafat in East Jerusalem,” he said. “Stones have not been thrown here since the Second Intifada, thirteen years ago. But for the last 72 hours, this has been the epicentre of the struggle against the Israeli occupation.”

In a bid to ease tensions, Palestinian militant group Hamas is said to have agreed to a ceasefire with Israel if it stops its air raids on the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian intelligence officials have reportedly brokered the potential truce.