Palestinians protest in support of prisoners on hunger strike

World Today

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-CLASHESA masked Palestinian protester is seen during clashes with Israeli security forces following a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of Ramallah on April 27, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / ABBAS MOMANI)

Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops on Friday in the West Bank in a show of support for prisoners held in Israeli jails who are on hunger strike.

The “Salt Water Challenge” draws attention to Palestinian prisoners

Fadwa Barghouti, the wife of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, said she was worried about her husband’s welfare.

She has had no contact with him since he started his hunger strike.

Palestinians say about 1,500 prisoners have been on a hunger strike for 19 days, demanding better conditions and more contact with relatives. Israel puts the number at about 1,100.

Some 6,500 Palestinians are currently in Israeli prisons.

Israel calls them security prisoners who are being held for offenses ranging from stone throwing to carrying out deadly attacks.

In 50 years of Israeli rule, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been jailed by Israel at some point, affecting virtually all Palestinian families.


Story by the Associated Press.