Israeli police suppress Palestinian demonstrators in Jerusalem
APRIL 29, 2017 8:33 P.M. (UPDATED: APRIL 29, 2017 10:39 P.M.)
Israeli police stand in front of Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, October 5, 2015. (AFP/File)
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli police suppressed Palestinian protesters in occupied East Jerusalem on Saturday, who gathered to express their support of approximately 1,500 Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Israeli prisons for the past 13 days.
Jerusalem-based Palestinian news outlet the al-Quds network reported that Israeli forces on horseback assaulted participants of a sit-in on Salah al-Din street just outside of the Old City.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a written statement that dozens of Jerusalemites arrived to the Damascus Gate entrance of the Old City, raising photos of Palestinian prisoners, in an attempt to hold "an illegal rally" in support of the hunger strikers.
She said that Israeli police officers deployed in the area dispersed the crowds "without any noteworthy or exceptional events occurring."
According to al-Quds Network, at least one young Palestinian man was detained at Damascus Gate.
Clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory on Friday after the Fatah movement called for a “Day of Rage” to support the hunger strikers, whilesolidarity sit-ins have been held daily in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Israel, and abroad.
Initially called for by Fatah-affiliated prisoners, hunger strikers from across the political spectrum have denounced the torture, ill treatment, and medical neglect of Palestinian prisoners at the hands of Israeli authorities, as well as Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention -- internment without trial or charges -- which is only permitted under international law in extremely limited circumstances.
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