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The violence in the occupied West Bank marked a widening-out of the conflict following days of hostilities
Violent clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians have spread across much of the occupied West Bank, following days of hostility in Gaza.
At least 10 Palestinians are reported to have died in the West Bank unrest, while hundreds have been injured.
Israeli forces used teargas, rubber bullets and live fire, as Palestinians threw petrol bombs.
The confrontations in the West Bank mark a broadening out of some of the worst violence in the region in years.
The conflict began on Monday and followed weeks of spiralling Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem. The increased hostilities culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas – the militant Islamist group which rules Gaza – began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
At least 126 people have been killed in Gaza and eight have died in Israel since the fighting began.
Many towns and cities in the occupied West Bank were convulsed by angry protests on Friday, prompting international calls for calm.
There were running battles between Israeli soldiers and young Palestinians, who appear newly emboldened by the events of the past week, the BBC’s Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says.
Meanwhile, there were protests at the Jordanian and Lebanese borders with Israel, in support of the Palestinians, on Friday. One man died after being hit by Israeli shell fire while protesting, state media in Lebanon reported. (BBC)
