ISRAELI occupying forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians in Nablus on Wednesday night as part of a violent crackdown amid growing opposition to plans to build an illegal mountain settlement.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that at least eight civilians had been shot and scores more treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Israeli soldiers were also alleged to have assaulted and injured a young Palestinian man during the protests against the construction of Givat Eviatar, an illegal outpost on Mount Sabih near the village of Beita in the occupied West Bank.

Settlers are refusing to leave the Palestinian land, despite a compromise agreement being struck with the Israeli government last month following a court order ruling they must vacate the 50 illegally built prefabricated homes.

But under the deal the strategic outpost will instead become an Israeli military base, a move which has provoked widespread anger.

Israeli soldiers have shot dead a number of Palestinians as they brutally suppress the daily demonstrations that have taken place in Beita.

On Wednesday Shady Sleem became the latest victim after he was shot dead by Israeli occupying forces in the West Bank village, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed.

“The Israeli occupation forces gunned Sleem down while he was near the village’s road junction, which led to his martyrdom,” a local reporter said.

“The occupation forces kept the martyr’s body, and they transported him in an Israeli ambulance amid a widespread deployment of occupation soldiers in the area,” he added.

Some 475,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank, which is home to around 2.8 million Palestinians.

Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and have continued to expand as world powers offer little other than mild rebukes.