Republican prisoners across Ireland are set to hold a one-day hunger strike on Friday in support Palestinians currently being held in Israeli jails.
Dozens of prisoners in Maghaberry, Hydebank and Portlaoise prison, in Co Laois, will be joined in the fast by inmates across the globe following a request from an international organisation known as the Anti-Imperialist Front.
Although figures vary, it has been reported there are currently more than 8,000 Palestinians currently behind bars, including more than 400 woman and children.
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It has also been suggested that around 3,000 of those detained are being held in what Israel describes as “administrative detention”, which essentially means they have been interned.
It is expected some of the Palestinians being held will be set free in the coming days in return for the release of Israeli hostages currently being held in Gaza.
Around 13,000 Palestinians are believed to have been killed since Israel started launching air strikes and other operations against Gaza following the Hamas-led attack last month, which claimed the lives of 1,400 people.
Prisoners taking part in Friday’s solidarity protest on both sides of the border are represented by the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association, which is linked to hardline political party Saoradh.
It’s chairman Stephen Murney, himself a former prisoner and head of the party's international department, said “the origins in the plans to commence a 24-hour hunger strike lay largely in showing solidarity with Palestinian prisoners who have doubled in numbers in the past month".