Israeli army storms hospital in occupied West Bank

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Several Palestinians were injured on Thursday when Israeli forces stormed the Ramallah Medical Center in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in a dawn raid, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“Israeli troops raided the medical center and fired live ammunition and teargas at Palestinian youth who responded by throwing stones,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, Israeli troops remained inside the medical center for about an hour and a half.

“Army troops refused to vacate the building despite appeals by the medical staff who were concerned about patients’ welfare,” the ministry statement read.

The ministry went on to note that “dozens” of Palestinians, including children and elderly patients, had suffered temporary asphyxiation due to the excessive use of teargas by Israeli troops.

There has been no comment by the Israeli authorities regarding the reported raid on the medical center, but the army frequently conducts arrest campaigns in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem ostensibly targeting "wanted" Palestinians.