Palestinian official said injured by IDF at protest

Mustafa Barghouti says he was hit by a stun grenade at a Naksa Day rally; Palestinians demonstrate in Hebron, Jerusalem

Marissa Newman is The Times of Israel political correspondent.

Palestinian demonstrators wave flags during a rally to mark Naksa Day on June 7, 2013 at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.  (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Palestinian demonstrators wave flags during a rally to mark Naksa Day on June 7, 2013 at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Palestinian official Mustafa Barghouti was injured by IDF stun grenades Thursday while attending a protest at the Qalandiya checkpoint, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported.

The rally, in honor of Naksa Day, which laments the Israeli victory during the 1967 Six Day War, was dispersed by Israeli troops using nonlethal munitions — including tear gas and stun grenades. Barghouti was said to be hurt in his right foot, and four others were reported injured by rubber bullets.

In 2012, Barghouti, who is also a PLO member and physician, claimed he was wounded by tear gas at a Land Day protest — allegations denied by the IDF, which said he was attacked by other Palestinians.

Moustafa Barghouti, second from left, with other Palestinian politicians. (photo credit: Issam Rimawi/Flash90)
Mustafa Barghouti (photo credit: Issam Rimawi/Flash90)

Palestinians also gathered to commemorate Naksa Day in Hebron and near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem on Thursday.

In Hebron, dozens marked the day and marched in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. IDF soldiers broke up the rally by the afternoon, and said the protesters had hurled stones at the troops and that there had apparently been no injuries on either side, the Ynet news site reported.

The Palestinian prisoners in question are presently on the 43rd day of their hunger strike, with as many as 65 of the 290 protesters hospitalized. Many of the inmates involved in the strike are administrative detainees who have never been formally charged by the Israeli courts.

There have been near-daily Palestinian demonstrations backing the prisoners, including one in the West Bank on Wednesday in which dozens of university students threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with tear gas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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