Wide scale protests rock West Bank as 'day of Rage' planned

Deadly clashes rocked the West Bank last night as escalating tensions reached new highs, fuelled by the Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Two Palestinians were shot dead during the protests, bringing the confirmed death toll this week to four. 

Estimates vary wildly but somewhere between 10,000 and 50,000 people took to the streets across the West Bank, with some commentators suggesting that the protests were the biggest protest since the outbreak of the first intifada in 1987. Israel Radio meanwhile said they had been the biggest demonstrations since the second intifada in 2005. 

Further protests in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are now expected with the Palestinian Authority and various other Palestinian factions calling for a “day of rage” following midday Friday prayers.

The escalating violence has prompted Israeli police to step up security. Police have announced that they will be prohibiting Palestinian men under the age of 50 from praying at the Al-Aqsa for what are usually packed prayers on the last Friday of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

"Different units have been mobilised in and around the Old City" of Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP on Friday.

"We're prepared to deal with any disturbances."

Police said that 39 protesters were arrested in various violent disturbances in Palestinian areas of the city.