Palestinian protesters clashed with the Israeli army on Wednesday in West Bank and Gaza Strip, in response to factions’ calls for transforming Wednesday into a day of rage against the US administration. They went down to streets in marches supported and facilitated by the Palestinian authority that has granted employees permission to leave early and participate in the marches, as a denouncement of the US President Donald Trump decision on occupied Jerusalem.
Remarkably, officials in Fatah and Palestine Liberation Organization participated in these marches with their families. Fatah and Islamic and national forces called for rage marches against Vice President Mike Pence who was supposed to visit Israel on Wednesday before he delays his visit to avoid more tension.
Palestinians raised flags of their country and posters saying that Jerusalem is an Arab city.
Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah's Central Committee, said that what is happening is a “battle that should continue” in a way that reinforces the Palestinian authority will to spur confrontations as one of the available options against Trump decision to recognize Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
Munir al-Jaghoub, head of Fatah's Information Department, stated that the marches in West Bank and Gaza Strip were against the US hostile approach towards the Palestinian cause, especially against Vice President Mike Pence who played a key role in Trump's announcement. Jaghoub told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Pence represents hatred against Arabs and Muslims, and he has a big plan to Judaize Jerusalem. This rage was directed against him and his administration.”
He affirmed that the Palestinian rage against the US administration won't stop.
Since the beginning of clashes on Dec. 7, Israel killed nine Palestinians, wounded around 4,000 and arrested hundreds. In this context, the Palestinian National Accord government warned from the danger of the Israeli occupation escalation.
