This article was originally published by the Ma'an News Agency and is republished with permission.

A man walks past a destroyed government building in Gaza, after a series of Israeli air strikes on Gaza's largest city. (Hatem Omar, Maan Images)

West Bank cities and villages, as well as neighborhoods across East Jerusalem staged massive demonstrations following the Friday prayers, calling for an end to the Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

Demonstrations took place in the cities, including Hebron, Jericho, Nablus, Bethlehem and Ramallah, as well as villages Al-Ma'sara, Bil'in, Ni'lin, Jayous and Qalqiliya too where demonstrators announced their solidarity with Gaza and condemned the nonstop massacres, going on in Gaza.

Many of the slogans being shouted were blaming the silence of the Arab nations; others expressed vehement anger against Israeli callousness in the face of so many casualties.

More than 2,000 men, women and children gathered in Nablus after the Friday prayers and marched from the main mosque in the city through the streets to the old city.

Smaller scale demonstrations tool place all over the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, condemning the Israeli actions in Gaza.

Jerusalem

Outside the gates to the Old City of Jerusalem Israeli police almost outnumbered protesters as mounted officers and foot patrols massed around the old city gates.

Angry demonstrators shouted "god is great" and carried signs denouncing the death of nine children in a Thursday airstrike that targeted the home of a Hamas leader in Gaza.

Protesters in Ras Al-Amoud set fire to tires during a protest in the East Jerusalem neighborhood; clashes broke out when Israeli police and border guards arrived in the area.

Hebron

Several clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and Israeli troops as protesters marched towards the central Bab Az-Zawiyah area via Ash-Shalaldah Street on their way to the nearby village of Beit Ummar.

The Israeli army barred journalists from entering Beit Ummar with the marchers, and clashes broke out when Reuter's journalist Yosri Al-Jamal was attacked by Israeli soldiers. A journalist from EPA Agency was also assaulted by Israeli troops.

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Al-Jamal's camera was broken and he sustained light injuries.

Jericho

Head of negotiations for the Palestinian Authority Sa'eb Erekat accompanied dozens of locals who demonstrated in the center of Jericho. Local leaders as well as Mosque and Church dignitaries also joined the procession.

Jenin

In Jenin Fatah undersecretary Ala As-Sa'dy addressed protesters and stressed the importance of working for national unity, because a strong Palestine is needed to face Israel. He called for the Arab countries to put pressure on the Security Council to stop such attacks and for Egypt to open the crossing to transfer patients to Hospitals.

Qalqiliya

After Friday prayers a crowded demonstration left the As-Suq Mosque in central Qalqiliya. The rally was organized by members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and civil society groups in the town as a chance for Palestinians to express their anger towards the current situation. Chants were for national unity in an effort to end the Gaza Christmas Massacre.

Jayous

A town north east of Qalqiliya, which is being bisected by the Israeli separation wall, held a protest at the construction site of the wall. Israeli military forces confronted the group as they approached the wall, and threw teargas canisters at the crowd.

Bethlehem

Civilians gathered at the Umar Ben Al-Khattab mosque in Nativity Square and marched along the main street calling for an end to the Israeli violence in Gaza. A second protest on the outskirts of the city began in the Ad-Duheisha refugee camp and paraded throughout the camp making similar condemnations.

A third demonstration in the Bethlehem area took place in the village of Al-Ma'sara. Residents built a coffin with the words "The Arab Nation" written on it, and walked to the area where the separation wall is being built on village lands.

Ramallah

Clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli troops at the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem, where very crowded demonstrations took place.

Other demonstrations tool place in the Ramallah city center, as well as the villages of Ni'lin and Bil'in, where weekly protests against the separation wall take place.