EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Residents of Palestinian politicians detained in Israeli prisons yesterday staged a rally in Martyrs Square, Nablus, to demand their release. Several officials including parliamentarians joined the wives and children of the detained politicians and activists. They carried placards and shouted slogans calling for an end to the detention of Islamic opposition figures. The protesters also sent a message to the faction leaders currently negotiating in Cairo urging them to end to the period of internal division and realise national reconciliation.

Security agencies from the Ramallah authority dispersed the rally and seized the equipment of a number of journalists. A prominent female member of parliament, Muna Mansour, and her daughter, a journalist, were among those manhandled as an attempt was made to seize her camera.

Yesterday's protest was part of a series organized by residents in cities across the West Bank to secure the release of their detained relatives.

MEMO Photographer: Ibtehal Mansour