Ten Palestinians wounded by Israeli troops and settlers in West Bank

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 10 Palestinians were injured on Saturday by Israeli settlers and security forces near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

"Ten injuries during settler attacks in the Khala'il al-Luz area south of Bethlehem, including one injury from live ammunition, and nine injuries from beatings," the rescue service said in a statement.

The Israeli army said in a joint statement with the police that its forces "were dispatched to the outskirts of Bethlehem, following a report of a violent confrontation between Israeli civilians and Palestinians".

The confrontations involved "stone hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene, as well as gunfire in the area toward the Palestinians," the statement said.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including many civilians, in the occupied West Bank since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures.

At least 44 Israelis, including both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, according to official Israeli figures.