West Bank Palestinians say 11 people killed as violence flares in occupied territories

Violence between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces erupted in several areas of occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank yesterday as the Israeli military ordered nearly half of Gaza's population to evacuate before an expected ground offensive

- Bethan McKernan , Ruth Michaelson Jerusalem

In the West Bank there were calls for marches across several major towns and cities but in the chaos across the region details on what under other circumstances would be described as major incidents were hard to follow. At least 11 Palestinians were shot and killed in the West Bank over the course of the day, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Khaled Mashal, the former leader of Hamas, called for a "global day of rage" in support of Palestinians, demanding governments and people across the Middle East protest.

"Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan ... This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility," he said.

Violent exchanges between Palestinians and Israel Defence Forces, as well as Israeli settlers living in the West Bank, were reported near Hebron, Nablus and Ramallah by early yesterday afternoon. It was not immediately clear how many people were involved, whether live fire had been used, and whether anyone had been injured or killed.