Israeli forces shut down Beit Ummar protest

Israeli forces shut down a protest in Hebron-district town Beit Ummar on Saturday, organizers said. A group of Palestinian and foreign activists gathered in the town and marched with Palestinian flags towards the neighboring Karmi Zur settlement, the popular committee said. Demonstrators are protesting Israel's detention last week of secretary-general of the popular and national committees in Beit Ummar Ahmad Abu Hashem, the group said. Forces shut down the protest using batons and sound grenades, lightly injuring the spokesman of the committee Yousef Abu Mariya, the committee added. An Israeli army spokeswoman said 20 people gathered near Karmi Zur and hurled rocks at security forces, but they did not respond.