Palestinian Prisoners End Mass Hunger Strike
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Sixty-three Palestinian prisoners have suspended the hunger strike, which they have observed in Israeli jails since late April, one of their lawyers said.
"The strikers, who have reached an agreement with the Israeli prison authorities, have decided to suspend their action with the approach of Ramadan," lawyer Abu Snena said on Tuesday in reference to the Muslim month of fasting.
Details of the deal will be made public on Wednesday, he added. Most of the strikers involved are being held in "administrative detention", a procedure which allows the indefinite detention of prisoners without charge.
The hunger strike was launched to denounce such detentions.
Sivan Weizman, of the Israel prisons service, said earlier this month that their hunger strike was the longest-ever staged by Palestinian prisoners, AFP reported.
About 5,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails, with nearly 200 in administrative detention.
Rights groups have denounced the practice, while the Palestinian authority has pressed the international community to press Israel to scrap the measure.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has also expressed concern about the deteriorating health of the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, calling on Israel to charge or release them without delay.