Violence increased in eastern Jerusalem following the death of a Palestinian teenager who was shot a week earlier by Israeli troops during a demonstration.
On Monday, the day after Muhammad Abd Al-Majid Sunuqrut, 16, died in Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital, protests began in eastern Jerusalem, which has been the scene of demonstrations and violence since the beginning of July. Hundreds of Palestinians have been detained during the two months of unrest, which started when a Palestinian teen was kidnapped and burned to death by Jewish Israelis in a revenge killing for the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teens, and with the launch of Israel’s military operation Protective Edge.
On Sunday night, masked Palestinian rioters threw firebombs at a gas station in Jerusalem’s French Hill neighborhood, near the border of eastern and western Jerusalem, and attacked its convenience store, causing serious damage and concern that the gas pumps would explode.
Also, rocks were thrown at cars with Israeli license plates, injuring two drivers, and at the Jerusalem Light Rail, which has put seven out of 23 trains out of commission in recent weeks due to rock attacks and other Palestinian violence, according to its operator, CityPass.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat condemned the violence late Sunday night, calling on police to “take strong measures against rioters.”
Sunuqrut’s father, Abd, told the Palestinian Maan news agency that his son was shot in the head with a rubber-coated bullet during the Sept. 1 rally in the Wadi Joz neighborhood. He claimed that his son was talking on the phone and not taking part in the demonstration.
Israel Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told The Associated Press that the teen was hit in the leg with a sponge-tipped bullet while throwing stones during the demonstration. He then fell and injured his head, according to reports.
The teen’s body reportedly was scheduled to be transferred to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for an autopsy by a Palestinian doctor.
