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Palestinian prisoners held by Israel set to go on mass hunger strike Palestinian prisoners held by Israel call off mass hunger strike
(1 day later)
Prisoners held by Israel is an especially important issue for PalestiniansPrisoners held by Israel is an especially important issue for Palestinians
About 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are to go on hunger strike in protest at their conditions, Palestinian media say. A mass hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israel set to begin on Thursday night has been called off, the official Palestinian news agency says.
The mass action comes after Israel tightened restrictions in the wake of a dramatic jailbreak by six inmates last September. About 1,000 inmates had been due to stage the action in protest at their conditions, officials said.
On Wednesday, a high-profile prisoner ended a six-month hunger strike after a deal with authorities. Wafa news agency said it was stopped after the prison service met detainees' demands. Israeli officials have not commented.
Palestinians consider prisoners held by Israel one of their top issues. Israel tightened restrictions in the wake of a dramatic jailbreak last year.
There are some 4,500 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, according to Palestinian officials. About 700 of them are held without charge under what is known as administrative detention. The escape by six Palestinians who tunnelled out of a high-security jail was a severe embarrassment for Israeli authorities.
Israel says the measure is necessary for its security, but civil liberty groups say the practice is a violation of human rights. The prisoners were recaptured over the course of nearly two weeks.
The head of the Palestinian Authority's prisoners' committee said a further 1,000 detainees would join the hunger strike if the prisoners' demands were not met.
The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, said the action was a resumption of a hunger strike postponed in March after an agreement was reached between prisoners and the prison service. It accused the prison service of attempting to backtrack on the deal.
Palestinian prisoners have periodically staged or threatened hunger strikes as a tactic to pressure Israeli authorities to improve their conditions. They say conditions have got worse since six Palestinians were recaptured after tunnelling out of a high-security jail last September and going on the run for nearly two weeks.
The episode was a severe embarrassment for Israeli authorities.
The BBC's Tom Bateman reports on a Palestinian jailbreak that rocked IsraelThe BBC's Tom Bateman reports on a Palestinian jailbreak that rocked Israel
The BBC's Tom Bateman reports on a Palestinian jailbreak that rocked IsraelThe BBC's Tom Bateman reports on a Palestinian jailbreak that rocked Israel
The planned hunger strike comes a day after administrative detainee Khalil Awawdeh, who had refused food since March, agreed to end his protest against his detention without trial. The Palestinian Authority's committee for current and former detainees said prisoners' representatives had decided to suspend the hunger strike after it had "achieved its demands", Wafa reported.
Mr Awawdeh, who is accused by Israel of belonging to the militant group Islamic Jihad, said Israel had agreed to release him on 2 October. There was no immediate confirmation by Israel. It said the suspension depended on the prison authorities fulfilling what they said they had committed to.
Palestinian prisoners have down the years periodically staged or threatened hunger strikes as a tactic to pressure Israeli authorities to improve their conditions.
The issue of Palestinians held by Israel is one which unites Palestinian society regardless of political differences. Palestinians consider the detainees as political prisoners. Many of them have been convicted by Israel of security crimes, including terrorism and murder.The issue of Palestinians held by Israel is one which unites Palestinian society regardless of political differences. Palestinians consider the detainees as political prisoners. Many of them have been convicted by Israel of security crimes, including terrorism and murder.
There are some 4,500 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, according to Palestinian officials. They say about 700 of them are held without trial or charge under what is known as administrative detention.
Israel says the measure is necessary for its security, but civil liberty groups say the practice is a violation of human rights.
On Wednesday, a high-profile prisoner held in administrative detention since his arrest last December ended a six-month hunger strike.
Khalil Awawdeh, who is accused by Israel of belonging to the militant group Islamic Jihad, said Israel had agreed to release him on 2 October. There was no immediate confirmation by Israel.