Six Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank in a new wave of violence between the two sides.
Five were killed after protesters started throwing stones at Israeli troops, while the sixth was shot after ramming his car into a military post and then trying to stab a soldier, officials said.
Most of the deaths occurred after live fire by troops, they added.
Separately, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said seven had been killed and more than 500 injured throughout the territory.
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A Palestinian demonstrator hurls back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in the West Bank
Dr Mustafa Barghouti, an independent Palestinian politician, told Sky News 60 similar protests were taking place across the West Bank on Friday.
Speaking in Ramallah, he described this week’s fighting as a “really unprecedented uprising” and said those killed were “just participating in protest and demonstrations”.
It comes after five days of airstrikes and rocket fire between Israel and Hamas that continued heavily through Friday.
Palestinian protesters throw tyres to block Israeli soldiers near Ramallah. Pic: AP
An Israeli bulldozer storms through roadblocks set up by protesters in the West Bank. Pic: AP
Key developments:
- 122 Palestinians have died, including 31 children and 20 women, 900 people have been injured
- Eight Israelis have died, including two children and a soldier
- Israeli forces assembled 9,000 troops along the Gaza border, as well as infiltrating Hamas tunnels
- Lebanon fired three rockets towards Israel into the Mediterranean Sea in a show of solidarity to Palestinians
- Hamas have fired thousands of rockets into Israel, with hundreds falling short and landing in Gaza
- Israel launched its heaviest bombardment yet on Friday, destroying buildings in Gaza City
- Mob fighting continued between Arabs and Jews in ‘mixed’ Israeli towns, with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin describing it as “senseless civil war”
Amid the widespread West Bank protests, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) fired warning shots at a group of demonstrators who had crossed the border from Lebanon to take part in the rallies.
The army said that the group of youths damaged the border fence and set fire to the area before fleeing back to the Lebanese side.
One person was injured in the incident according to Al-Manar TV, which is run by Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
Israeli soldiers assemble with their tanks at the Gaza border
Lebanon had fired three rockets towards Israel late on Thursday, in an apparent show of solidarity to the Palestinians in the occupied territories, but they landed in the Mediterranean Sea and caused no damage.
On Friday, a pre-dawn offensive saw Israeli forces use tanks, artillery units and 160 aircraft to unleash its heaviest attack on Gaza so far.
An explosion after an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City
Buildings obliterated in Gaza City
The Israeli city of Lod after widespread rioting
A military spokesman said it was focusing on underground tunnels, which they believe are used by Hamas militants.
Hamas and smaller Palestinian terror group Islamic Jihad, continued to launch rockets from the strip into Israel on Friday.
Dr Barghouti told Sky News correspondent Mark Stone in Ramallah that “Hamas and others are saying they are ready immediately for a ceasefire, but Israel is refusing”.
In a video statement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “I said we would extract a heavy price from Hamas.
“We are doing that, and we will continue to do that with heavy force.”
Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida said the group was not afraid of an Israeli ground invasion, which would be a chance “to increase our catch” of Israeli soldiers.
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Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti told Sky News Palestinians have been protesting against Israel’s ‘system of discrimination and oppression’
Despite Egyptian and other international attempts at mediation, fighting is also ongoing in ‘mixed’ Israeli towns where Arabs and Jews live side-by-side.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin described the rioting as “senseless civil war”.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also spoken to Mr Netanyahu urging a return to peace in the region.
Security sources said neither side appeared to be backing down, but a Palestinian official claimed negotiations intensified on Friday.
