RAMALLAH, March 31 (JMCC) - Israeli forces violently broke up a peaceful protest in front of the Ofer military court in Ramallah Wednesday.

Some 300 protesters gathered in front of the court, but were denied entry by Israeli border police. When some of the protesters tried to tear down a fence and gain access, the police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, said a spokesperson for the demonstrators.

One Palestinian protester was arrested when Israeli border police smashed the window of a car and pulled him from inside it.

The demonstrators were calling for the immediate release of ten detainees arrested on Sunday at a Bethlehem protest against travel restrictions leveled against Palestinians seeking to worship at Jerusalem holy sites.

Among the ten detainees is Fateh Central Committee member Abbas Zaki. Several Fateh officials were in attendance at Wednesday's protest.

In a statement, the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs called for the release of Abbas Zaki and those arrested during a peaceful demonstration in support of freedom of access to the Holy City on a major Christian religious holiday.

Fifteen demonstrators were originally detained in the Palm Sunday protest, but the internationals and Israeli citizens among them were released that evening. 

The military court postponed Wednesday's proceedings to Thursday morning.