Palestinian officers are disciplined after beating of teenage boy is caught on video

An Israeli soldier walks next to an Iron Dome rocket defense battery near the southern city of Sderot, Israel, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Israel placed an Iron Dome rocket defense battery in the southern town of Sderot, where a rocket launched from Gaza exploded on Friday, damaging a house and a bus. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) (The Associated Press)

RAMALLAH, West Bank – The Palestinian security forces say they have disciplined eight officers caught on video beating a teenage boy with clubs.

The security forces were preventing dozens of protesters from reaching an Israeli checkpoint near the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday. The video showed protesters throwing stones and bottles and then several officers beating the boy. It sparked criticism of the Palestinian leadership and demands to punish the officers.

The National Security Forces said Sunday that four senior commanders were suspended and will face "disciplinary measures." Another four officers were sentenced to three months in prison.

Palestinian security forces have limited powers in the West Bank but are often tasked with holding protesters at bay in areas where they operate.