Over 30 injured at rally for hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners

A protest to celebrate May Day and in support of the 2,000 Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike in Israeli jails resulted in 31 injuries on Tuesday, some of them serious.

Credit photo: Hamde Abu Rahma

The protest of 150 people walked towards the gates of Ofer prison, close to Ramallah, waving Palestinian flags and chanting. They were met with tear gas, sound bombs and sustained use of rubber-coated steel bullets.

“We are unarmed and we are met with fully armed soldiers who just want to oppress us…they shoot directly at the heads, at the bodies, they shot at an old man with two bullets in his legs," activist Abir Kopty told RFI.

Eighteen protesters required hospital treatment after being injured with rubber bullets or hit with tear gas canisters, including several head injuries.

The Palestine Medical Red Crescent Service said that it treated a further 13 people on site, including a member of their team who was hit with a rubber bullet.

“As you see the Israelis also put some shots … in the emergency cars and ambulances," one medic explained. "They also prevent the injured people to come to the ambulances to get them to the hospitals.”

Bout 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons are currently on hunger strike. Ten were transferred to hospital on Tuesday, including Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla, whose loves are considered to be at risk after 63 days without food.

Khader Habib, leader of  Islamic Jihad, told a press conference in Gaza City on Tuesday that the death of any hunger striker will signal an end to their agreed ceasefire with Israel.