Palestinians stage strike to support jailed compatriots

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Palestinians on Thursday staged a general strike in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip to show solidarity with jailed Palestinians who are now waging an open-ended hunger strike inside Israeli prisons.

With the exception of health services, most public and private institutions in the territories -- including most universities and high schools -- closed their doors in line with calls to strike.

Strike calls were initiated by the National Committee to Support the Hunger Strike, which includes representatives of several Palestinian political factions.

The committee has also urged Palestinians to take part in planned demonstrations to show support for more than 1,000 jailed Palestinians who began their hunger strike on April 17 to demand better prison conditions.

The hunger strike is being spearheaded by Palestinian politician -- and longtime prisoner -- Marwan Barghouti, who has languished in an Israeli jail for more than a decade.

According to Palestinian figures, Israel is currently holding more than 6,500 Palestinians -- including 57 women and 300 children -- at 24 prisons and detention centers throughout the country.