Palestinians are planning a "Day of Rage" for Tuesday (23 May) to coincide with Donald Trump's visit to the West Bank city of Bethlehem. At the very least, this means a probable escalation of the violent protests in support of the hunger strike by more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners over their treatment in Israeli jails.
11 May 2017: A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, close to the West Bank city of RamallahMohamad Torokman/Reuters
The hunger strike began on 17 April as a protest against poor conditions and an Israeli policy of detention without trial that has applied to thousands of prisoners since the 1980s. Since then, there have been scattered incidents throughout the West Bank, with Palestinian demonstrators hurling glass and rocks at Israeli officers, who have responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
A Palestinian man was killed in the occupied West Bank on 18 May when an Israeli settler opened fire as protesters crowded around his car and pelted it with rocks, according to multiple accounts.
17 April 2017: Demonstrators gather during a rally in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails, in the West Bank city of RamallahMohamad Torokman/Reuters21 April 2017: A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones towards Israeli security forces during clashes following a demonstration in the West Bank town of BethlehemMusa al-Shaer/AFP17 April 2011: Israeli security forces aim towards Palestinian protesters during clashes following a demonstration in the West Bank town of BethlehemAhmad Gharabli/AFP21 April 2017: A Palestinian protester throws rocks towards Israeli forces during clashes in the West Bank village of Beita, southeast of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP21 April 2017: Israeli soldiers arrest Palestinian demonstrators amid clashes in the West Bank village of Beita, southeast of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP23 April 2017: Palestinian demonstrators scuffle with an Israeli border guard during clashes near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP24 April 2017: A Palestinian protester hold stones during clashes with Israeli security forces near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP27 April 2017: Palestinian protesters take cover during a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP27 April 2017: A Palestinian protester takes cover during clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank town of BethlehemAmmar Awad/Reuters4 May 2017: Wounded journalists react during clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops in the West Bank city of BethlehemMussa Qawasma/Reuters5 May 2017: A Palestinian protester hurls back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank village of Beita, near NablusMohamad Torokman/Reuters11 May 2017: Israeli security forces use a water cannon as Palestinian protestors throws stones near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP11 May 2017: An Israeli border policeman aims his weapon at Palestinian protesters near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near the West Bank city of RamallahMohamad Torokman/Reuters11 May 2017: An Israeli border guard takes aim during clashes with Palestinian demonstrators near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP11 May 2017: A wounded Palestinian protester is carried by his comrades during clashes near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP12 May 2017: Demonstrators protest in front of Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah, after a demonstration following Friday prayers in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jailsAbbas Momani/AFP12 May 2017: A member of the Israeli forces opens fire during clashes with Palestinian protesters in the West Bank village of Beit Furik, east of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP12 May 2017: Palestinians tend to an injured demonstrator during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, north of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP12 May 2017: The bloodied hat of a Palestinian protester lies on the ground after clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Beit Furik, east of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP12 May 2017: Palestinian hunger striker Mohamed Omar Nakhleh receives first aid for malnutrition after spending over 20 days on hunger strike as he arrives in a Palestinian ambulance at the al-Ahli hospital in Hebron following his release from an Israeli jail after finishing his sentenceHazem Bader/AFP16 May 2017: Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian protester trying to block the main road between the West Bank city of Nablus and the Jewish settlement of Shavi ShamronJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP18 May 2017: A Palestinian youth holds a burning tyre during clashes with Israeli soldiers at the Qalandiya checkpoint, near the West Bank city of RamallahAbbas Momani/AFP19 May 2017: Israeli soldiers patrol a street during clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank city of HebronMussa Qawasma/Reuters19 May 2017: A Palestinian demonstrator uses a slingshot to throw stones towards Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Bait Djan, near NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP19 May 2017: Protesters take cover during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Bait Djan, near NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP19 May 2017: Palestinian demonstrators run for cover during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Bait Djan, near the city of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP19 May 2017: Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics carry an injured demonstrator on a stretcher during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Bait Djan, near NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP22 May 2017: Israeli soldiers walk with their weapons in the West Bank village of Dayr Sharaf, west of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP22 May 2017: A masked Palestinian protester stands near smoke during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Dayr Sharaf, west of NablusJaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP
Sources from the Palestinian authority say they had hoped an end to the mass hunger strike would be negotiated before Trump's West Bank visit. If the health of any of the hunger strikers deteriorates, these protests will, without question, further escalate.
