'Land Day' clashes: Youngster killed, over 200 injured – reports

A member of Hamas security forces prevents Palestinian protesters from reaching the border between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip, after a protest marking Land Day March 30, 2012

A Gaza youth has reportedly been killed while over 200 people have been wounded throughout the West Bank. The violence comes as clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians protesters marking Land Day rage on.

A Palestinian youngster has been killed at the Erez Crossing in the northern end of the Gaza Strip, RT’s Paula Slier reports from the scene. Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti was rushed to hospital after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister at Qalandia checkpoint in the West Bank. 

Over 200 people have been injured so far in Qalandia alone, including 85 with rubber bullets, the Red Cross says. Ambulances are racing to and from the scene, as Palestinian youngsters continue throwing stones at Israeli soldiers and police.

As the number of injured rises, locals say that a field hospital has been built near Erez.

The standoff between the Israeli army and Palestinians continues at various checkpoints, with occasional bursts of tear gas being fired at protesters. To disperse the crowds, Israeli forces are also using water cannons and rubber bullets. Some reports suggest that Israelis used live ammunition.

Israeli security forces are further deploying other kinds of non-lethal weaponry, including “skunk devices” that spray a foul-smelling fluid, and machines that emit a high frequency sound.

Meanwhile, some 20,000 protesters have reportedly gathered along the Israeli-Jordanian border. Crowds are also gathering along the Israeli- Lebanese border, as the Lebanese army responded by beefing up its security presence. There have been no reports of injuries or clashes along the border so far.

A Palestinian is arrested by Israeli policemen during a demonstration by hundreds of Palestinian protesting as they mark Land Day in Israeli annexed East Jerusalem on March 30, 2012 (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)