Dozens injured in fresh Palestinian protests in W. Bank

Dozens of Palestinians were injured in fresh protests in the occupied West Bank on Saturday amid tension over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

In a statement, the Palestinian Red Crescent said 12 protesters were injured and rushed to hospital after reportedly being beaten by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.

Two demonstrators were also injured by rubber bullets and ten others suffered gas inhalation when Israeli forces dispersed a rally in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Palestinian groups have called fresh mass demonstrations across the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Saturday against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Four Palestinians have been martyred and hundreds injured in clashes and Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and West Bank since Friday.

Meanwhile, Palestinian committees in West Bank's refugee camps on Saturday announced refusal to meet any U.S. members of the UNRWA relief agency in protest of Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"We have informed UN officials holding the U.S citizenship in West Bank and Jerusalem that they are no more welcome in the Palestinian refugee camps," Mahmoud Mubarak, Head of West Bank's Executive Office, told Anadolu Agency.

"This is the least we can do for the city of Jerusalem," he said.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem-occupied by Israel in 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.