QALQILIA, May 19, 2017 (WAFA) – Clashes Friday broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinians, when the former attacked nonviolent Palestinian protesters marching in solidarity with the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Fatah faction, along with the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), and the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission have called for massive demonstrations after Friday prayers in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike since April 14.

Hundreds of Palestinians took part in the march, leading to clashes in more than one location in Qalqilia governorate.

Around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners Friday entered a critical phase after being on hunger strike for 33 consecutive days.

The hunger strikers are calling for better access to medical care; increased visit duration from 45 to 90 minutes; removal of glass barriers during family visits; improved detention conditions including easing restrictions on the entry of books, clothing, food and other gifts from family members; installing phones to enable prisoners to communicate with their families and an end to the policy of administrative detention.

T.R.