RAMALLAH: On Thursday demonstrations took place across the Israeli-occupied West Bank in solidarity with hunger-strikers and prisoners. Several sources, including the International Solidarity Movement, reported clashes at Ofer Military Prison near Ramallah. According to a Facebook update posted by Activestills.org, hundreds of solidarity protesters clashed with the Israeli military outside of Ofer and soldiers fired heavy quantities of rubber-coated bullets indiscriminately. During the clashes, according to Palestinian sources on Twitter, former hunger-striker Khader Adnan was injured from inhaling tear gas. He was transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment, as was Abir Kopty, a prominent activist hit in the head by a rubber bullet resulting in receiving stitches. There are presently four Palestinian prisoners on long-term hunger strike: Samer Al-Issawi, who has reached 213 days, along with Tarak Qa'adan and Jafar Ezzedine, who have surpassed the 80 day mark. Ayman Sharawna, another former hunger striker who went six months without food last summer, is also on hunger strike again, though it is not clear when he restarted. All four of the men are administrative detainees, being held in Israeli lockup on “secret evidence" with neither charge nor trial. According to Addameer Prisoner Support Network, at least 188 Palestinians are currently imprisoned in administrative detention, though the practice flies in the face of jurisprudence and is illegal under international law. Al-Issawi's face is plastered on walls, doors, and shop windows in cities across the West Bank. In Ramallah, protesters have assembled every day this week holding placards of his face and calling for his immediate release. As he reaches his 213th day without food, Israeli courts have decided to continue his imprisonment indefinitely. Some reports put his weight under 40 kilograms. Ayman Sharawna's mother began a solidarity hunger strike on Sunday, according to Addameer. On Tuesday, as demonstrations broke out across the West Bank, some 800 prisoners in three Israeli prisons launched mass one-day solidarity strike on behalf of their long-term hunger striking counterparts. The hunger strikers have struck an emotional chord with Palestinians at large, who are united in their support for the prisoners. On Thursday, politician and activist Mustafa Barghouti warned that a Third Intifada would break out “if anything happens to the prisoners." BN
