Monday, April 10, 2023

In the West Bank, thousands of Israeli settlers, including 7 cabinet ministers, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among them, and several MKs marched to the Evyatar settlement outpost. 22 Palestinians protesting the march were injured by baton rounds fired by Israeli forces, while more than 100 suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli settlers also threw stones at vehicles near al-Khader, Bethlehem, and al-Bireh and threw stones at commercial structures in al-Khader. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, 3 were injured, including 2 by live ammunition, and 5 were arrested. A video of the incident showed the minor running away from Israeli soldiers when he was shot in the back. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided al-Ein refugee camp, injuring 2 with live ammunition and 10 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians in Beit Umar, causing tear-gas related injuries and damage to 1 vehicle. In East Jerusalem, some 1,500 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. (AJ, ALM, GDN, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/10; AJ, AP, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 4/11; PCHR 4/13 MDW 4/14; UNOCHA 4/20)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press conference that he had rescinded his firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on 3/26. Gallant had continued to act as the defense minister despite his dismissal. Netanyahu also criticized the former Israeli government for its deal with Lebanon to demark the maritime borders between the 2 countries. (AP, AX, MEE, REU 4/10; HA 4/11)