Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at hunger strike supporters in Nablus area, setting tent on fire

Clashes erupted following the fire, locals said, with Israeli soldiers firing more tear gas canisters in the area and damaging at least one vehicle parked in the area.

While a number of Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation, no serious injuries were reported among the demonstrators who had been at the sit-in tent.

The incident came mere days after a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces ignited a fire in the market of the Nablus- area village of Beita during similar protests in solidarity with hunger strikers, burning down at least eight warehouses.

Initially called for by imprisoned senior Fatah official Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian hunger strikers have denounced the torture, ill treatment, and medical neglect of Palestinian prisoners at the hands of Israeli authorities, as well as Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention -- internment without trial or charges -- which is only permitted under international law in extremely limited circumstances.

Israeli forces have used repressive measures against the hunger strikers, as well as against their supporters in the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, where sit-in tents have sprouted to show solidarity with the hunger strikers, who entered their 15th day without food on Monday.



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