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Palestinian journalist held by Israel ends 3-month hunger strike

Xinhua, February 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Palestinian prisoner announced he is ending a three-month hunger strike over detention after reaching a deal with the Israeli authorities, his lawyer said on Friday.

Mohammad al-Qeeq, a Palestinian journalist from Ramallah, had been on a hunger strike for the past 93 days, since he was placed under administrative detention in November. Security forces said he was suspected of involvement in Hamas-affiliated terrorist activities.

Administrative detention is a controversial procedure used by Israeli security forces against suspects in security-related matters, allowing authorities to detain suspects for renewable periods of six months without bringing them to trial.

Jawad Boulos, al-Qeeq's attorney, confirmed to Xinhua on Friday that a deal was reached.

According to the deal reached with Israeli authorities, al-Qeeq will be released on May 21, a month earlier than scheduled. Until that time he will continue to be hospitalized at the Emek medical center in Afula, situated in northern Israel. His family members will be allowed to visit him in hospital.

Last month, Israel's Supreme Court suspended al-Qeeq's detention as his health condition deteriorated. He rejected the court's ruling and refused to be treated or fed.

Palestinian prisoners use hunger strikes to draw international attention to their detention and the lack of due judicial process. As of early August 2015, Israel was holding 340 Palestinians in administrative detention, according to official figures.

Fearing the death of a Palestinian hunger striker would spark unrest among the Palestinian population, as prisoners are revered as freedom fighters by the Palestinian people, the Israeli government passed a controversial measure last year enabling the force-feeding of strikers at risk of death.

Israel's Medical Association, Doctors without Borders and other local and international groups objected to the law.

In a similar case last year, Mohammad Allan, a Palestinian prisoners who went on a two-month hunger strike was released from detention after the Supreme Court intervened, as his health drastically deteriorated. Enditem