Zionist regime forces attack Palestinian demonstrators

Israeli security forces have attacked a large crowd of Palestinians who demonstrated in solidarity with several thousand Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

On Thursday, hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the Beitunia military checkpoint in the West Bank to sympathize with 4,500 Palestinian prisoners, four of whom are on hunger strike, The Associated Press reported.

Some of the Palestinian prisoners are held in a military prison near the checkpoint.

The Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protestors.

Mohammad Samhan, an official with Palestinian Red Crescent, said 27 people were injured while some 30 others were treated for inhaling tear gas.

On Wednesday, Palestinian protesters held a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah in solidarity with hunger strikers in Israeli jails.

Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian protesters supporting those on hunger strike in the West Bank town of Huwara on February 19. The troops used tear gas and sound bombs to disperse the demonstrators.

Also on Thursday, Palestinian inmate Saamer al-Isaawi, who has been on hunger strike for more than 200 days, was sentenced by an Israeli court to eight months in jail. He might be released as early as next month since he was arrested on July 7, 2012.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern over the dire condition of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails.