Palestinian dies as West Bank tensions continue

A PALESTINIAN protester hit in the face by a projectile fired by Israeli forces died of his wounds yesterday.

Witnesses say Mustafa Tamimi, 28, was hurling rocks at a military vehicle when he was struck in the head by a tear gas canister during a demonstration on Friday in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh. Tensions also simmered on Israel’s southern border and in Gaza, where mourners buried a 12-year-old boy killed in an Israeli strike on Friday. Militants also fired two rockets at Israel. Hundreds of angry mourners marched in the funeral procession.

Israeli forces had carried out airstrikes against Hamas facilities and suspected militants on Friday. It was a sharp escalation after weeks of sporadic but persistent rocket fire by Palestinian militants, followed by Israeli retaliatory strikes.