The Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces on Saturday violently subdued a peaceful sit-in staged in al-Khalil city in protest at the political detention of citizens and arrested several protestors.
Eyewitnesses reported that PA security elements opened fire and launched tear gas attacks to disperse dozens of members and supporters of al-Tahrir Party who rallied at Ibn Rushd junction in the city.
They added that PA soldiers were deployed in big numbers in the central district of the city and at its main entrances in order to prevent more participants from reaching the protest area affirming that the soldiers physically assaulted the protesters and arrested many of them.
Spokesman for al-Tahrir Party Musab Abu Arqoub said the sit-in was intended to protest the detention of about 20 citizens affiliated with the Party in PA jails.
