Israel on alert over Palestinian protests

The Israeli army is on high alert ahead of protests expected to be held outside Israel’s Ofer prison, north of al-Quds (Jerusalem), in solidarity with thousands of imprisoned Palestinians.

The army is bracing itself for protests on Friday outside the notorious prison in solidarity with more than 4,000 Palestinians in Israeli detention. 

On Wednesday, Palestinian protesters held a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah in solidarity with hunger strikers in Israeli jails. 

Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian protesters supporting those on hunger strike in the West Bank town of Huwara on February 19. The troops used teargas and sound bombs to disperse the demonstrators.

Meanwhile, Palestinian inmate Saamer al-Isaawi, who has been on hunger strike for more than 200 days, is expected to appear in court on Thursday. 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern over the dire condition of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails. 

Many of the Palestinian prisoners are under Israel’s administrative detention, which is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows the Tel Aviv regime to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months. The detention order can be renewed for indefinite periods of time.