OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — A
Palestinian prisoner
refusing
food for months over his detention ended his hunger strike Tuesday after Israel
committed to his eventual release, his lawyer told AFP.
اضافة اعلان
Hisham Abu Hawash, a 40-year-old member of the Islamic Jihad
militant movement, began refusing food in August to protest Israel holding him
without charges or trial.
The married father of five from Dura, in the south of the
Israeli-occupied West Bank, is being held under administrative detention — a
practice of arresting suspects for renewable six-month terms without allowing
them to view the charges or evidence against them.
Under an agreement proposed to Abu Hawash, his detention
will not be extended beyond February 26 in return for his ending his fast.
His lawyer, Jawad Boulos, said Abu Hawash accepted the deal.
"He agreed and ended his hunger strike just 10 minutes
ago, he had some tea, and everything is okay," Boulos told AFP late
Tuesday.
The
International Committee of the Red Cross, whose medical
teams visited Abu Hawash over the weekend, said he was in "critical
condition" after fasting for some 140 days, warning of "potentially
irreversible health consequences and possible tragic loss of life".
An Israeli security source noted February 26 would be the
end of his current six-month detention period, meaning it wasn't shortened, but
at the same time, the deal meant Israel would not renew it.
The deal came after a campaign that drew support from
Palestinians, ranging from Fatah that rules the West Bank, to militant factions
in Gaza threatening revenge on Israel if Abu Hawash died.
Palestinian Prime Minister
Mohammad Shtayyeh said the
government was following the case and acting on the behalf of Abu Hawash.
Hamas warned the issue was a "red line" for
Palestinians.
Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza,
said it held "the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the
deteriorating health" of Abu Hawash, threatening revenge if he died.
Demonstrations in his support were held in recent days in
the West Bank and
Gaza.
An Israeli security source described Abu Hawash as "an
Islamic Jihad operative, who was arrested due to involvement in terror
activity".
Israel says the protocol prevents crimes while authorities
continue to gather evidence, though Palestinians say it denies them their
rights.
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