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Palestinians march in Ramallah in support of prisoners

Tuesday, 01 March 2022 5:18 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 01 March 2022 5:19 PM ]

Mona Kandil

Press TV, Ramallah

Palestinians in the occupied Ramallah took to the streets in support of more than 4,500 prisoners who are facing strict punitive measures and collective punishment by Israeli prison authorities.

Recently, the prisoners have taken a series of actions against new restrictions imposed on them by Israeli authorities. Prisoner’s advocacy groups, who organized the protest, described the prisoner’s actions as an uprising or intifada.

Tension in Israeli prisons have escalated since September 2021, following the escape of six prisoners from the Gilboa high-security jail. Although they were caught after a massive manhunt, Israeli officials implemented several punitive measures against the remaining detainees such as banning visits and reducing their yard time, which led to clashes and strikes.

As part of those actions taken by the prisoners, since January 1, some 500 detainees have been boycotting the Israeli military court system, to protest their imprisonment under the so-called administrative detention. Today some 4,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including 180 children and 34 women. Palestinians hail them as freedom fighters.

Prisoners’ advocacy groups say 2022 has been worse for the Palestinian prisoners so far, and the inmates themselves believe that they are in need of such solidarity protests because the worst is yet to come in the wake of the escalating tough measures by the Israeli prison authorities.

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