GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Two Palestinian children were killed on Thursday in clashes with Israeli forces that erupted in both the occupied West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“Ali Qino, 16, was killed in clashes with the Israeli army that erupted in the village of Iraq-Burin south of the West Bank city of Nablus,” the ministry said in a statement.

A second Palestinian was killed in the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, when Israeli troops used live ammunition to disperse demonstrators on strip’s eastern border, according to a separate statement released by ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra.

“Amir Abu Mosaed, 16, was killed after being shot in the chest,” al-Qidra said.

“Three other Palestinians were injured, including one who is now in critical condition,” he added.

Clashes erupted Thursday afternoon between Palestinian youths and Israeli troops near the Al-Bureij refugee camp on the Gaza Strip’s eastern border with Israel.

The Palestinian territories have remained tense since U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month, drawing widespread protest from across the Arab and Muslim world.

Since Trump’s Dec. 6 announcement, at least 18 Palestinians have been martyred — and thousands more injured — in clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

[Photo: Earlier on 4 January Palestinian youth was killed.  Relatives of Musab Firas Et-Tamimi (17), who was killed after Israeli soldiers opened fire, mourn during his funeral ceremony in Ramallah, West Bank on January 04, 2018. Photographer: İssam Rimawi/AA]