Longest Palestinian Hunger Strike Ends in Deal

Khader Adnan's lawyer says his client will end his strike immediately.

 

[Jawad Boulos, Adnan's Lawyer]:              

"Starting this evening Khader will stop his hunger strike, Khader will get the medical treatment that is needed, because I knew yesterday, from the doctor who is responsible in Safed hospital, his condition is very bad - he may face certain death."

 

Doctors had voiced fears about his deteriorating health.

 

Adnan was under arrest "for activities that threaten regional security".

 

He was a member of the militant group Islamic Jihad, and had been refusing food since mid-December.

 

A spokeswomen for the Israeli Justice Ministry along with the Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs confirm that Adnan will be free on April 17.

 

Supporters of Adnan welcomed the deal as a symbolic victory over Israeli occupation of the West Bank.              

 

Human rights activists said the outcome would not change Israel's practice of "administrative detention" which allows it to hold suspects indefinitely.                      

With Adnan's release Israel has dodged a high-profile examination of the issue of detention without trial.              

 

The court has upheld that procedure for decades.              

 

West Bank officials said Adnan's hunger strike was the longest staged by a Palestinian detainee.

 

His Jihadist supporters had warned of violent reprisals against Israel if he died.              

 

A local rights group, al Haq, says 315 Palestinians are still being detained under "administrative detention".