Palestinian National and Islamic Forces: Israel attempting to transfer Coronavirus to Palestinians, call to protect prisoners

“The [Palestinian] National and Islamic Forces (see note below –Ed.) in the Ramallah and El-Bireh district called on our people everywhere and the prisoners’ families to raise pictures of their sons on the house balconies and roofs together with the Palestinian flag at 6:00 p.m. this Friday, April 17 [2020], which is Palestinian Prisoner’s Day…

The forces called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international organizations to pressure the Israeli occupation to force it to conduct medical exams for the prisoners and take precautions to protect their lives…

They considered the occupation government fully responsible for their lives.

They also condemned the occupation’s daily invasions and the imposition of a closure on many areas, as has happened in Qalandia, Kafr Aqab, and Samiramis, and viewed this as blatant interference in internal affairs and an attempt to transfer the disease to our people.”

Palestinian National and Islamic Forces - an unaffiliated coordinating body comprised of representatives from factions in the PLO and outside the PLO. The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces were established in 2000 shortly after the start of the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005), under the authorization of Yasser Arafat and the leadership of terrorist Marwan Barghouti. During the PA terror campaign it played an active role in coordinating political efforts and terror attacks against Israel, but since the end of the campaign it has been less significant and its activity is primarily centered in Gaza.