Mayo woman stages public protest over Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails

A MAYO woman has held a protest at Market Square, Castlebar, today in solidarity with hundreds of Palestinians prisoners on hunger strike for te past 11 days in Israeli jails.

Janet O'Neill, Castlebar, had a placard beside here as she proudly held the Palestinian flag.

The placard read: “1,500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israelis jails.”

Her silent protest attracted a lot of interest from passing pedestrians and motorists.

She told The Connaught Telegraph: “What is happening is of great concern to me and many others.”

According to new reports from the Palestinian city of Ramallah, Palestinians held a general strike today in solidarity with the prisoners with some calling it the largest in years.

Stores were closed and roads empty across the West Bank, the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel for 50 years.

In the city of Ramallah, several dozen people gathered at a tent set up in a central square where a protest march was to begin.

'This general strike is unprecedented in years,' said Khalil Rizeq of the Union of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce.

'All Palestinian industries, such as transport, bakeries, stores, all of the private sector and commercial institutions are participating.'

The strike was called in all cities in the West Bank, with only doctors and students nearing graduation excluded.

Palestinian bus services were also on strike in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.