A leading Palestinian politician, Ms Hanan Ashrawi, was one of several women who were injured yesterday when Israeli soldiers fired teargas and stun grenades at about 600 women protesting against Israel's closure of the West Bank.
"Many were hit in the head," Mr Mustafa Barghouthi, president of the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Commitees, said. "Luckily, I don't think anyone will have serious complications." Carrying Palestinian flags and shouting slogans denouncing the closure, which has been in place in varying degrees of severity for nearly half a year, the women marched on the Ar-Ram checkpoint near Ramallah, heading towards Jerusalem.
After trying to hold back the women by forming a human wall, the soldiers fired teargas and stun grenades which emit a loud noise, but no shrapnel.
"Lift the closure! No peace with [Jewish] settlements", yelled the women. "End the occupation, Settlers out!"
Ms Ashrawi, who was injured in the leg, said: "This is Israeli courage, attacking women. This is occupation in its real picture, force against captive people.
"They attacked us violently. We are unarmed, then they come and say we initiate violence," Ms Ashrawi said. She was wounded in the leg and treated at the scene by bodyguards.
Another women's march is planned tomorrow in Ramallah to honour Palestinians killed since the Intifada began, the organisers said.