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Israeli soldiers take position during clashes with Palestinian protesters at a demonstration marking Land Day at Qalandiya checkpoint
Israeli soldiers officers take position during clashes with Palestinian protesters at a demonstration marking Land Day at Qalandiya checkpoint Reuters

Land Day has been marked by more violence as clashes erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops.

At least a dozen rallies were held across Israel and the occupied territories,

Thousands of Palestinian marked Land Day, an event that commemorates the deaths of six Arab Israeli protesters in1976 at the hands of Israeli forces during mass demonstrations against plans to confiscate Arab land in Galilee.

Violence erupted and Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas, stun grenades and tear gas to break up groups of stone throwing Palestinians.

Palestinian activists have called for a "Global March to Jerusalem" to mark the day but violence erupted in the occupied West Bank to the north and south of Jerusalem.

Police limited access to al-Aqsa Mosque and there were reports of disturbances at the gates leading to the Old City where about 400 demonstrators waving huge Palestinian flags had gathered.

Violent clashes erupted near the Qalandiya crossing out of Ramallah as nearly 1,000 protesters gathered. Israeli forces used water cannons and tear gas to push the protesters back into Ramallah.

Troops also fired a foul-smelling liquid called "skunk" into the crowd, an AFP correspondent said.

Palestinian medics said that by the end of the morning up to 30 people had been treated for teargas inhalation.

Twitter users reported live ammunition used in Qalandiya but the claim could not be verified.

There were also confrontations in Bethlehem where protesters threw petrol bombs at an Israeli watchtower and medics in Gaza said Israelis forces used live fire to prevent protesters from approaching the frontier wall. One man was seriously wounded they added.

Latest reports said one youth was killed in Gaza and at least five people were seriously injured.

­Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti was also taken to hospital in serious condition after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister at Qalandiya.

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