Thousands of Israeli protesters have staged a massive rally to protest the recent spate of clashes between Palestinian people and Israeli troops, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Saturday evening, the demonstrators converged in front of Netanyahu’s residence in al-Quds (Jerusalem) to denounce the spiraling violence in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds as well as the Tel Aviv regime’s failure to bring the situation under control.
The protesters shouted “Bibi, go home!” and criticized Israeli authorities for their provocations against Palestinians.
Similar anti-Netanyahu protests were also staged in other Israeli towns, with demonstrators blocking roads and throwing stones and firecrackers at police forces.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) says more than 170 Palestinians have sustained gunshot wounds during Saturday skirmishes in the Palestinian territories.
The PRCS’s spokeswoman, Errab Foqaha, said at least 26 Palestinians were shot by live rounds, while 148 others were hit by rubber-coated steel bullets.
She added that 408 Palestinians also suffered excessive tear gas inhalation, and four others were physically assaulted.
Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has called the recent spate of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli military troopers in West Bank and East al-Quds over the past few days an “Intifada (uprising)” against the Tel Aviv regime.
“We are calling for the strengthening and increasing of the Intifada…. It is the only path that will lead to liberation,” Haniyeh said during a sermon aimed at Palestinian worshipers attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Gaza City.
“Gaza will fulfill its role in the al-Quds Intifada and it is more than ready for confrontation,” he pointed out.
On October 8, UN High Commissioner for Human Right Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein expressed extreme concern over the escalation of the tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories, urging an end to the violence.
The UN official also warned about the rising number of the Palestinians injured by live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas.