This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/23/palestinian-hunger-striker-breaks-fast

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Palestinian hunger striker breaks his fast after eight months Palestinian hunger striker breaks his fast after eight months
(35 minutes later)
A Palestinian prisoner who refused food for eight months has ended his hunger strike after a deal was reached with Israeli authorities for his early release, his lawyer and the military said.A Palestinian prisoner who refused food for eight months has ended his hunger strike after a deal was reached with Israeli authorities for his early release, his lawyer and the military said.
Samer Issawi began refusing food in August in protest over his re-arrest last July. His strike became a rallying cry for Palestinians who saw the 33-year-old from Jerusalem as a symbol of their struggle against Israel. Palestinian rallies in support of him turned violent on occasion. Samer Issawi began refusing food in August in protest over his re-arrest last July. His strike became a rallying cry for Palestinians, who saw the 33-year-old from Jerusalem as a symbol of their struggle against Israel. Palestinian rallies in support of him turned violent on occasion.
Israeli officials worried that wider unrest could break out if anything happened to Issawi, whose weight plummeted. Several weeks ago he was sent to hospital because his health deteriorated. Israeli officials feared that wider unrest could break out if anything happened to Issawi, whose weight plummeted. Several weeks ago he was sent to hospital because his health deteriorated.
Attorney Jawad Bulous said Israeli military prosecutors agreed early on Tuesday to release Issawi after he serves another eight months, which means he should be released by the end of the year. Lawyer Jawad Bulous said Israeli military prosecutors had agreed early on Tuesday to release Issawi after he serves a further eight months, which means he should be released by the end of the year.
The lawyer said the deal was signed and that Issawi ended his hunger strike in the presence of his sister and uncle. The Israeli military confirmed the deal but had no further details. The lawyer said the deal was signed and that Issawi ended his hunger strike in the presence of his sister and uncle. The Israeli military confirmed the agreement but had no further details.
Issawi was sentenced in 2002 to 26 years in prison for his role in a series of shooting attacks targeting police cars and students at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. He was released as part of a 2011 deal that freed hundreds of Palestinians – many of them militants involved in fatal attacks – in exchange for the release of an Israeli soldier held in Gaza. Issawi was sentenced in 2002 to 26 years in prison for his role in a series of shootings targeting police cars and students at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. He was released in 2011 as part of a deal that freed hundreds of Palestinians – many of them militants involved in fatal attacks – in exchange for the release of an Israeli soldier held in Gaza.
Under the terms of his release, Issawi was banned from entering the West Bank, but he travelled there three times. He also tried to convince an eyewitness to lie to Israeli security forces about his location, but later confessed to violating the terms of his release, said another lawyer, who has overseen the case. That attorney spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to be seen contradicting Issawi's supporters. Under the terms of his release, Issawi was banned from entering the West Bank, but he travelled there three times. He also tried to convince an eyewitness to lie to Israeli security forces about his location, but later confessed to violating the terms of his release, said another lawyer who has overseen the case. That lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to be seen contradicting Issawi's supporters.
He said security forces accused him of planning to kidnap Israeli soldiers and trying to amass weapons, but he has not been charged with those offenses. He was arrested again in July and was expected to serve out the rest of his original sentence. Issawi said security forces accused him of planning to kidnap Israeli soldiers and trying to amass weapons, but he has not been charged. He was arrested again in July and was expected to serve out the rest of his original sentence.
To pressure Israeli authorities to come to a deal, Issawi gambled with his life, refusing infusions of vitamins and minerals, his attorney said. His lawyer said that to pressure Israeli authorities to come to a deal Issawi gambled with his life, refusing infusions of vitamins and minerals.
"No doubt, this is a big victory for Samer," Bulous said. The hunger strike "forced the Israeli side to reverse their position"."No doubt, this is a big victory for Samer," Bulous said. The hunger strike "forced the Israeli side to reverse their position".
The prisoner issue is deeply sensitive for Palestinians, many of whom have a family member behind bars. There are some 4,500 Palestinians in Israeli jails for sentences ranging from throwing stones to killing civilians in deadly attacks, according to figures from Israeli prison authorities in February. The prisoner issue is deeply sensitive for Palestinians, many of whom have a family member behind bars. There are about 4,500 Palestinians in Israeli jails for sentences ranging from throwing stones to killing civilians, according to figures from Israeli prison authorities published in February.
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8amguardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am