Dozens hurt as Israeli forces disperse Palestinian rally in West Bank

By Qais Abu Samra

HEBRON, Palestine (AA) – Israeli forces dispersed a Palestinian rally in the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday in support of hunger-striking detainees in Israel, according to local residents.

Protesters chanted slogans for the release of six detainees, who have staged a hunger strike in protest of their detention without charge or trial, the resident said.

Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the protesters, who responded by hurling stones.

Medics said dozens of protesters were injured and suffered temporary asphyxiation during the rally.

The policy of administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to extend the detention of a prisoner without charge or trial.

There are around 4,850 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including 520 administrative detainees, according to institutions concerned with prisoners’ affairs.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara