RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Five people were injured on Monday in clashes at Qalandia checkpoint between Israeli soldiers and protestors commemorating the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, witnesses said.

Dozens of young men marched towards Qalandia checkpoint to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the massacre, with Israeli soldiers firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd as it approached the crossing, witnesses said.

Demonstrators responded by throwing rocks and empty bottles at the soldiers.

One man was arrested and five were injured by rubber coated bullets, witnesses said.

An Israeli army spokesman said that between 10-15 Palestinians hurled rocks and firebombs at Israeli soldiers.

The Sabra and Shatila massacre took place after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, when Christian Phalangist militias entered the Beirut camp under Israeli military watch to wreak retribution for the alleged assassination of their leader Bachir Gemayel.

Between September 16-18, Palestinian refugees were killed in droves. At the time, the number of dead was estimated at 700, but eyewitness British reporter Robert Fisk says the number is closer to 1,700.

Israeli soldiers in control of the perimeter of the camps did not stop the slaughter, firing flares overhead at night to aid the Phalangist gunmen.

An Israeli investigation found then defense minister Ariel Sharon guilty of failing to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians. He was demoted but later became Israeli prime minister.