In the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Palestinians shut down businesses and halted services Thursday in a general strike held in solidarity with prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails. This is Hebron resident Shadia Sultan.

Shadia Sultan: “The solidarity is very nice and organized. Everything is closed. Everyone is in solidarity with the prisoners. Even the store owners have put up 'closed' signs in their stores reading, 'Today we are on a strike in solidarity with the prisoners,' which gives a sense of pride and freedom to the prisoners.”

More than 1,000 prisoners began refusing food on April 16 to protest poor conditions in Israeli jails, as well as Israel’s policy of administrative detention, which allows Palestinians to be held for months without trial.