IDF, Palestinians clash near Jerusalem

Hundreds of Palestinians clash with IDF at northern Jerusalem checkpoint as part of 'Nakba Day' events. Undercover police officers arrest protesters hurling stones. Four officers lightly injured, total of 36 Palestinians arrested in several incidents around capital

Hundreds of Palestinians clashed with IDF forces at the Qalandiya checkpoint in northern Jerusalem as part of the "Nakba Day" events Sunday. 

The IDF said that dozens of protestors were hurling stones at security forces prompting the use of crowd-control measures to disperse the crowd.

Four police officers were lightly injured from stone hurling in several incidents in east Jerusalem, and a total of 36 Palestinians were arrested.

The Jerusalem police arrested a Palestinians man who hurled Molotov cocktails toward police and Border Guard forces in the neighbourhood of al-Tur.

In al-Walaja, south east of Jerusalem, two Palestinian protesters were arrested after trying to block the road.

In Shufat Refugee Camp, north of Jerusalem, Border Guard officers arrested nine Palestinians who hurled stones, and three other Palestinians were detained in Jerusalem's Old City after threatening business owners to close their stores and hold a commerce strike.

"We came here to mark the 'Nakba'," Qalandiya resident Mias Asi told Ynet. "We want to commemorate all the people that were expelled. We don’t want to fight, but we have no choice.

"We are struggling to bring back our lands," she added.

Another protester claimed that "what is happening here is a first step ahead of a third intifada."

Ronny Hamerman, an activist with Machsom Watch – a voluntary group monitoring military checkpoints for human rights abuses – who arrived at the Qalandiya checkpoint told Ynet that "it's very weird that Israel is trying to monopolize the historical recollection of another people. Why is our recollection the only thing important?" 

Tamar Fleishman of Machsom Watch added that "the soldiers here are warring with the Palestinians. They're not using live ammunition yet, but people are hurt from tear gas."

Meanwhile, undercover police officers arrested several protesters who hurled stones at police and IDF forces near Qalandiya checkpoint.

Some 1,000 Palestinian were holding a "Nakba Day" protest at the site and waving PLO flags.

Palestinians are reporting that dozens have been wounded by rubber bullets and hundreds suffered from smoke inhalation and were transferred to hospitals. The IDF has confirmed that they used 0.22 mm bullets in Qalandiya.

Thousands of Palestinians are taking part in a march marking "Nakba Day" – the "catastrophe" of Israel's inception – in Ramallah while riots continue in Jerusalem.

Police are also investigating a possible terror attack in Tel Aviv after a truck hit some 15 vehicles and caused the death of one person.

A 63-second siren was sounded across the West Bank at 12 pm, marking the 63 years that have passed since Israel declared independence.

Omri Efraim contributed to the report