Weekly demonstrations held at regular sites in the West Bank such as Bil'in and Ni'lin often escalate into violent riots, where rioters hurl rocks and firebombs at IDF and Border Police forces. Photo: wiki commons.

In video footage released on Tuesday of a riot near the West Bank’s Jalazone refugee camp, an Israel Defense Forces soldier is seen defending himself from rock throwers with little more than his bare hands, Israel’s Channel 2 reported.

The violent disturbance occurred last Friday when approximately 200 Palestinian-Arabs began throwing rocks and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli soldiers. The upheaval, which lasted close to three hours, resulted in two Israeli fighters being lightly wounded.

On the Palestinian-Arab side, one rioter was seriously injured and 11 others were slightly wounded. According to an IDF source who spoke to Channel 2, Friday’s melee was “slightly larger than usual,” but was nothing that the Israeli military hasn’t seen before.

Jalazone, located seven kilometers north of Ramallah, is administered by the Palestinian Authority while security matters remain in Israel’s jurisdiction.

According to the IDF’s official spokesperson, “The video documented a violent and illegal riot in which firebombs were hurled at the IDF, which responded with standard riot control procedures. During the disturbance one soldier who felt that his life was in danger fired into the center of the fracas. This soldier was subsequently evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.”

“It should be emphasized that following an initial investigation, we can report that the force acted appropriately,” the IDF added.

Watch a video of the incident below: