Gaza City - Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces on Friday as fallout continues over US President Donald Trump's announcement recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital last week.
Following Muslim prayers, Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli troops who responded with tear gas in the West Bank and along the Gaza border.
Israeli police said a Palestinian was shot after he attacked an officer with a knife near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said the officer was injured lightly in the shoulder. The attacker was evacuated from the scene by the Red Cross medical service. His condition was unclear.
Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Kidra said five Palestinians were injured in clashes in two locations along Gaza's border with Israel. He said they were injured by live fire and were in moderate condition.
Palestinians have been clashing with Israeli troops across the West Bank and along the Gaza border since US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital last week. The Islamic militant group Hamas that rules Gaza has called for a new armed uprising against Israel in response to Trump's declaration.
'An emotionally charged issue'
The Trump announcement departed from decades of US policy that the fate of Jerusalem should be decided through negotiations. Protests in response to the announcement have taken place in various Arab and Muslim countries in the region.
East Jerusalem is home to sensitive Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites and the fate of the territory is an emotionally charged issue at the heart of the conflict. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war from Jordan, as the capital of their future state. Israel says the entire city, including east Jerusalem, is its eternal capital.
Palestinians were infuriated by Trump's announcement on December 6 because they saw it as siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the conflict. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said Trump's move disqualified the US from continuing in its role as the traditional mediator of peace talks.
Trump said his decision merely recognises the reality that Jerusalem already serves as Israel's capital and is not meant to prejudge the final borders of the city.
