Israeli forces tear gas students during West Bank university raids

Several Palestinians were suffocated by tear gas during Israeli army raids carried out early Monday in Ramallah’s Birzeit University.

According to Palestinian Authority’s official news agency Wafa, clashes reportedly broke out in al-Masyoon and al-Masayef neighbourhoods in Ramallah as well as in Birzeit city.

The mother of Birzeit university student Yazan Maghames, who is currently held in Israeli prisons, and student Basil Flyyan were detained during the raids.

Itiraf Rimawi, the executive director of Bisan Centre for Research and Development and a former detainee were also taken by Israel.

Israel has occupied the West Bank illegally since 1967, committing various crimes against Palestinian civilians.

More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.

The Oslo agreement of 1995 divided the occupied West Bank into three: Area A, Area B and Area C.

Area A is under the administrative and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PA); Area B's administration is controlled by the PA, with Israel controlling security; Area C is under full administrative and security control of Israel.

Along with stealing land, occupying Israeli forces and settlers routinely torment Palestinians in various ways.

Israeli forces and settlers routinely harass Palestinians in the occupied territories through harming and killing civilians, demolishing homes, poisoning livestock, vandalising property and other forms of violence.

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