Ramallah/PNN/

A Palestinian was critically shot in the head and four others sustained injuries and bruises during confrontations that broke out with Israeli forces today following a settlers' attack against Palestinian farmers and properties to the east of Ramallah.

Member of al-Mughayyir village council, Marzooq Abu Naim, said settlers from the Israeli settlement of Adei Ad, built illegally on Palestinian land, beat up and attacked Palestinian farmers with stones and set fire to at least five cars and around 270 bales of hay in an area located between the villages of al-Mughayyir and Turmus Ayya to the east of Ramallah, causing injuries and bruises to at least four farmers.

Israeli forces stormed the area to provide the settlers with protection, leading to confrontations with Palestinian youths, during which a Palestinian was shot and injured with live ammunition in the head. He was taken to hospital for medical treatment, where his condition was described as serious as reported by the Ministry of Health.

The entrances of al-Mughayyir village, east of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, have been sealed off by the Israeli army for 14 consecutive days. Villagers are prevented from entering and leaving and are forced to take long rough roads to reach their destinations.