Dozens injured in West Bank protests: report

Dozens of people were injured on Thursday in the Palestinian-dominated West Bank in protests after President Trump announced the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, CNN reported.

Palestinian protesters used slingshots and threw rocks during the demonstrations, according to the network, and Israeli forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. 

{mosads}The unrest comes one day after Trump announced the U.S. would not only recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital but said the U.S. Embassy would be relocated from Tel Aviv to the holy city. 

The State Department, on Tuesday, warned U.S. citizens to avoid Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank over fears of protests and violent reaction to the president’s announcement. 

Palestinians have claimed part of Jerusalem as their capital. 

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, has called for an uprising, or an “intifada,” to take effect on Friday.

“The American decision is an aggression on our people and a war on our sanctuaries,” Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, said on Thursday.  

“We want the uprising to last and continue to let Trump and the occupation regret this decision,” he continued. 

Palestinians closed schools and shops in preparation, while the Israeli military announced it would deploy several battalions to the West Bank, according to The Associated Press.