RAMALLAH (West Bank) April 16: Some 25,000 Palestinians have been arrested by Israel since the beginning of the intifada 30 months ago, and some 8,000 are still behind bars, a Palestinian official said on Tuesday.

“Israel has arrested some 25,000 Palestinians since the beginning of the intifada, and 8,000 are still being detained in 11 prisons,” said Palestinian parliamentary deputy Kadura Fares, who is in charge of the prisoner issue.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 had been jailed for 20 years or more, the longest-serving of them having been imprisoned 27 years ago, he told AFP.

Fares, who submitted a report to parliament on Tuesday, also said 220 of the Palestinian prisoners were under 18, 60 were women held in the Neve Tirtza prison near Ramla, and 300 were suffering from serious health problems.

Fares’ report comes ahead of “prisoners day”, to be held on Thursday and marked by demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.—AFP