Security services arrest Palestinians in solidarity with hunger strikers

On Friday Palestinian security services cracked down on protestors who took to the streets in the West Bank city of Jenin in solidarity with hunger strikers inside Israeli jails, Arab 48 website reported.

Witnesses said that security forces, armed with batons, closed the road in front of the two rallies and prevented them from reaching Abu-Ali Mustafa roundabout, where activists planned to make speeches.

According to the witnesses, the security services arrested a number of youths who participated in the rallies. The reason for the arrest, the witnesses said, was that they were carrying Hamas and Islamic Jihad flags.

Former minister of prisoners and freed prisoners Wasfi Qabha condemned the crackdown on the youths. He said: “What the Palestinian Authority security services did is unfortunate and painful. They should have secured the rallies and united with them.”

He continued: “It has become clear that there are some [PA officials] who do not want the Palestinians to show solidarity with the prisoners. The person who does not bear seeing these [factional] flags does not feel comfortable with reconciliation.”