A number of school students in a Bethlehem town suffered from suffocation on Thursday after Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters during clashes at the western entrance of the town, the director of the municipality said.

A peaceful students march set off in the town in support of Al Aqsa Mosque was soon blocked by Israeli forces who fired stun bombs and tear gas canisters at protesters, he added.

Israeli arrests and home raids were reported in southern Bethlehem, Nablus and Jenin.

Tensions in the West Bank have been running particularly high since Thursday, when a Palestinian gunman killed a Jewish couple in their car. During the weekend, two Israelis were killed and three injured in two separate stabbing attacks in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The Palestinian unrest was prompted by the burning of Dawabesha family, repeated Israeli storming of Al Aqsa Mosque compound and restrictions to the entry of Al Aqsa Mosque for Palestinians under 50 years old.

Since settler deaths, Israeli forces have been raiding West bank homes and arresting Palestinians.

Source: MENA