Palestinians riot in Israel jail

By Aleem Maqbool
BBC News, Ramallah

Part of the camp was destroyed by fire during the riots

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have clashed with Israeli guards at a prison in the Negev desert, southern Israel.

Fifteen Palestinians and 15 guards were hurt, Israeli officials said.

The Israeli authorities say the riot started during a routine search but the Palestinian Authority said it was "unacceptable practices at the jail".

More than 2,000 Palestinians are held in Ketziot Prison. At one point, some of the camp was on fire as prisoners battled with their guards.

Palestinian officials say they believe the number of wounded is far higher and that 10 of the injured prisoners needed hospital treatment.

International complaint

Violence broke out overnight as Israeli guards searched the tents that serve as living quarters.

They used forbidden weapons, rubber bullets - it is unacceptable Ashraf al-Ajrami, Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs

The Israeli authorities brought the situation under control within an hour but have been accused by Palestinian officials of using violent means and of provoking the prisoners in the first place.

"The Israelis did what they did against our prisoners without any reason. They entered the sections at midnight to search the Palestinian prisoners' rooms," Ashraf al-Ajrami, the Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs said.

"They used forbidden weapons, rubber bullets - it is unacceptable."

Mr Ajrami says he has contacted the Israeli government and international human rights organisations to complain about the incident.

The Israel Prisons Authority says it used the correct response in light of the endangerment of the lives of prison officers.