April 17 is observed globally as “Palestinian Prisoners’ Day,” commemorating the first prisoner exchange in 1971 between Israel and Palestinian representatives. The day is intended to highlight the rights of prisoners and their families, raise awareness of detention conditions, and advocate for their release.
Accordingly, multiple protests are expected to take place worldwide between April 17 and April 19. In addition, many of these demonstrations are likely to address the recently approved Israeli law introducing the death penalty for individuals convicted of terror-related murder, situating this issue within the broader context of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.
Risk Level Methodology
We define risk levels based on an assessment of a number of factors that may lead to potential harm to Jewish/Israeli communities/assets, such as proximity to Israeli assets , location in major cities , the organizing group’s history of violence , the tone of rhetoric surrounding the protest , and online engagement levels (e.g., post likes). Risk levels range from:
Low : Potential for minor disruptions/press coverage.
Medium : Potential for minor violence/major disruptions.
High : Likely to involve violence.