Palestinian protester dies from wounds

A Palestinian protester hit in the face by a projectile fired by Israeli forces died of his wounds Saturday, said an activist and a member of his family.              

Witnesses say he was hurling rocks at a military vehicle when he was struck in the head by a tear gas canister during a West Bank demonstration on Friday.           

The Israeli army's use of these canisters has come under sharp criticism in the past few years.                

Mustafa Tamimi died at Beilinson Hospital in central Israel, said Israeli pro-Palestinian activist Jonathan Pollak. His relative, Mahmoud Tamimi also confirmed his death.               Tamimi is the 20th person to be killed over the past eight years at demonstrations throughout the West Bank, said Sarit Michaeli of the Israeli rights group Btselem.             

An Israeli military spokeswoman said they were investigating the incident. She said she did not have any details on how Tamimi was initially wounded.             

Tamimi's supporters accused soldiers of using excessive force to deal with the protester.      

"The question is not whether the person is throwing stones or not throwing stones, the question is whether the army is allowed to use deadly force from within an armored vehicle," said activist Pollak.

"This violates the army's own regulations."

AP