Three Palestinians were injured Friday in an attack by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and settlers during a peaceful tree-planting event in the town of Tuqu near Bethlehem, as reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

According to Taysir Abu Mufarreh, director of the Tuqu Municipality, Israeli settlers, guarded by the IOF, physically assaulted and fired rubber-coated bullets at Palestinian activists who were taking part in a tree-planting event on a land close to the town threatened to be confiscated by the Israeli Occupation.

Abu Mufarreh added that the IOF also attacked the local activists with pepper spray, causing three of them to suffer from breathing difficulties.

All three injured Palestinians were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Despite the attack, the Palestinian activists were able to plant trees on the land.