Ramallah  - Violent demonstrations broke out in several West Bank areas Saturday afternoon to protest the ongoing Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip.

Those attacks have so far has left more than 200 Palestinians dead and more than 300 wounded.

The demonstrations, which took place in areas where Palestinians come into contact with Israelis, turned into stone throwing and clashes with the Israeli army.

Stone throwing took place at Qalandia checkpoint and Shufat refugee camp, in the Jerusalem area, as well as in Hebron and in Ramallah in the West Bank. The Israeli army used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

In Ramallah, dozens of Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers near the settlement of Beit El to the north of the city. Israeli army units, who arrived at the scene to keep the Palestinians back, fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators.

The Palestinian police also intervened to keep the demonstrators away from the Israeli army, creating a buffer zone between the two parties.

Several people were treated for tear gas inhalation in the Beit El area. None of those treated suffered serious problems due to the tear gas.

In Hebron, dozens of Palestinians threw rocks at the Israeli soldiers in the old city and Shuhada Street. Despite prolonged clashes, there were no reports of serious injuries.

Stone throwing was also reported in several villages in the West Bank without reports of injuries.

Workers in West Bank cities and East Jerusalem observed a general commercial strike Saturday. It is expected to continue through Sunday.

The Palestinian government met Saturday afternoon in an emergency session and decided to call for three days of mourning. It also called for an immediate end to the Israeli attacks.

In a statement, the government condemned the Israeli air raids and called for "an immediate end to this aggression because its continuation will only lead to an escalation in violence in the region."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, has also condemned the raids and said that he was in touch with Arab and international leaders to put an end to the Israeli attacks.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the raids saying, "Nothing can justify the Israeli aggression on the civilian population of Gaza. These savage attacks cannot be tolerated. Israel must be held accountable for these war crimes."

He called on "all members of the international community to demand that Israel immediately stop its massacres in the Gaza Strip and end its illegal blockade." (dpa)