Tens of Palestinian protestors and international activists were injured when Israeli army shot and tear-gassed them near the West Bank city of Ramallah Friday, witnesses and medical sources said.

Most of the injured, including Palestinian Religious Affairs Minister Mahmoud al-Habbash, suffered from the tear gas, hospital officials said.

The rally was held against the Israeli seizure and annexation of Palestinian lands in the north of Ramallah to build the concrete wall, better known as the West Bank barrier. The wall would separate Jewish settlements and Israeli towns from Palestinian communities.

Witnesses said they saw Jewish settlers, protected by the Israeli soldiers, attacking the demonstrators.

There have been no reports or official confirmation from Israeli side about the incident.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2010)