Palestinians numbering in the hundreds clashed with Israeli troops in the West Bank and east Jerusalem overnight Wednesday, firing at IDF troops in Ramallah, after Palestinian inmates rioted across Israeli prisons in the wake of the Gilboa prison breakout.
On Wednesday night, demonstrators clashed with Israeli forces near the Hawara checkpoint south of Nablus while other incidents occurred across the West Bank in strongholds such as Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Anabta and Tubas, in addition to east Jerusalem.
The series of events were sparked by the escape of six Palestinian prisoners from the Gilboa Prison in Israel's north using an underground tunnel. A large-scale manhunt has been ongoing for days as the search for fugitives continues.
Gunfire was reported in the cities of Jenin and Hebron by Palestinian media.
מחדל בריחת המחבלים | דיווחים פלסטיניים על ירי בג'נין@AlonAmitzi pic.twitter.com/sjoPLdV2OB
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) September 8, 2021
Video shared over social media showed rioters in Isawiya throwing fireworks and Molotov cocktails at security forces.
מתפרעים פלסטינים משליכים בקבוקי תבערה ויורים זיקוקים לעבר כוחות הביטחון בעיסאוויה שבמזרח ירושלים@SuleimanMas1 pic.twitter.com/adkJ2cohpa
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) September 8, 2021
Army Radio estimated that around 500 Palestinians participated in the riots.
During a riot in the city of Ramallah, protesters fired live ammunition at IDF troops. There were no IDF casualties or injuries, and the IDF responded with riot dispersal methods.
مواجهات قرب مدخل بلدة بيتا جنوب نابلس نصرةً للأسرى.تصوير:سامي الشامي#فلسطين #معركة_السجون pic.twitter.com/rnMuLeMnsZ
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) September 9, 2021
Solidarity events were called in downtown Ramallah and Gaza City to show support for the six security prisoners who broke out of an Israeli prison on Monday.
There are also planned marches and rallies taking place in Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem, according to Palestinian media.
Palestinian factions called to stand up to IDF troops who have deployed throughout the West Bank in search of the fugitives, according to the Palestinian Information Center.
"Loudspeakers in a large number of West Bank mosques call for people to take to the streets to participate in marches in support of prisoners after sunset prayers, and to head towards Israeli checkpoints and seam points to confront the occupation," the organization added.
مصادر محلية: "مكبرات الصوت في عدد كبير من مساجد الضفة الغربية تدعو للنزول للشوارع للمشاركة في مسيرات داعمة للأسرى بعد صلاة المغرب، والتوجه نحو الحواجز الإسرائيلية ونقاط التماس لمواجهة الاحتلال".
— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) September 8, 2021
Calls were made on social media to demonstrate at the Nablus Gate against "the guards' attack on Palestinian prisoners," according to army radio. It is not clear what the scope of the demonstration will be.
In light of the ongoing security situation, Israeli media reported that the closure which was in place over Rosh Hashanah in Gaza and the West Bank may be extended.
Jerusalem Post Staff and Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.