Palestinian Badly Hurt in Clash with Israeli Army

A Palestinian student was in critical condition on Monday after being hit in the head when Israeli troops broke up a protest near Ramallah, medical and security sources said.

Palestinian security sources said the student, 20-year-old Mohammed Abu Awad, was hit in the head by a bullet during a demonstration near the Atara checkpoint, five kilometers north of Ramallah.

The protest was in support of a hunger striking female prisoner, they said.

Medical sources at a Ramallah hospital confirmed the student was in intensive care but said he had been hit in the head by a tear gas canister.

The Israeli military said they were not immediately aware of the incident but were looking into it.