Roundup: Palestinians hail victory of hunger-striking journalist in Israeli jail

Palestinians described the deal announced Friday between Israeli authorities and the detained Palestinian journalist Mohamed al-Qiq as a victory for him and the detainees in Israeli jails.

Eassa Qaraqe', head of detainees' affairs commission of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told Xinhua that the deal "is considered a victory for al-Qiq and the Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails in the face of the unlawful Israeli administrative detention."

The Palestinian Prisoner's Club (PPC) announced Friday that a deal was reached to release the Palestinian prisoner Mohamed al-Qiq who was on strike for 94 days, protesting his administrative detention by Israel.

An emailed press statement by the PPC said that the deal practically puts an end to al-Qiq's battle against administrative detention, with an undertaking not to renew his administrative detention upon its end on May 21.

The statement said that in return, al-Qiq will continue his medical treatment in the Israeli hospital to which he was transferred, and to be taken back the Israeli prison facility (Nafha) until his detention period is over.

Al-Qiq's family will be allowed to visit him in the hospital, under the new deal.

Qaraqe' expressed gratitude to the "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leadership and government, and heads of security apparatuses, especially (Palestinian National Authority General Intelligence Chief) Brigadier Majed Faraj, for their efforts to put pressure to save al-Qiq'a life."

He also thanked "Palestinian people and all popular and legal institutions and national factions, and to all international organizations and the Palestinians living in Israel for the important roles in supporting al-Qiq's rights and demands throughout his strike, and especially Knesset (Israeli Parliament) member Osama Sa'adi."

Administrative detention is a measure that allows Israeli authorities to detain prisoners without charging them or allowing them to stand a trial based on secret information, which cannot be accessed by either the detainees or lawyers, for periods of six months that can be renewed for unlimited times.

Al-Qiq, 33 years old, is a TV reporter and was arrested by Israel on Nov. 21 and withheld under administrative detention without trial. He started an open hunger strike, drinking only water, since Nov. 24.

The Israeli high court suspended the administrative detention order on Feb. 4, allowing family visits and removing his shackles on the hospital bed, without releasing him, but he refused to end his strike.

On Feb. 15, the Israeli high court suggested moving al-Qiq to an East Jerusalem hospital, which he rejected and continued his hunger strike. Endit