Israel reports that 300 Palestinian prisoners who have been on a hunger strike for two weeks in protest of their conditions in prison have agreed to end their strike. According to a report by Agence France-Presse, Gilad Erdan, Israel's Minister of Public Security, emphasized on Sunday that these prisoners agreed to break their hunger strike 'without achieving their demands.' This Israeli cabinet official announced that 920 other Palestinians are still on hunger strike and stated that 'any negotiation in this regard is out of the question.' Based on the statements of this Israeli minister, the number of Palestinian prisoners who have gone on hunger strike exceeds 1,200, but Agence France-Presse noted that Palestinian officials and the NGO 'Palestinian Prisoners Club' mention this number as 1,500. Mr. Erdan also reported that the prison service is planning to establish 400 medical units in prisons to minimize the need to transfer strikers to hospitals. The hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners began nearly two weeks ago, on April 17, and during this time, the strikers have only consumed water and salt. According to Agence France-Presse, the strikers' demands include better medical services and access to phones. The report adds that despite the Israeli Minister of Public Security's insistence on the non-negotiable nature of the conditions of these prisoners, Qadoura Fares, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, stated that the prison service is attempting to negotiate over the prisoners' demands and has transferred some of them to a prison in northern Israel. Mr. Fares noted that Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader, was not included in this negotiation. Marwan Barghouti, who is a popular Palestinian leader and is considered a potential successor to Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, has been sentenced to five life terms due to his role in the Palestinian Intifada. Mr. Fares stated that Marwan Barghouti is in solitary confinement, which has also been emphasized by Issa Qaraqe, the Palestinian Authority's official for prisoner affairs.
Israeli Minister: 300 Palestinian Prisoners Agree to End Hunger Strike
300 Palestinian prisoners have agreed to end their hunger strike after two weeks, although they did not achieve their demands. Over 900 prisoners continue to strike, with their demands including better medical care and phone access. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinian prisoners regarding their treatment.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
300 Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger strike without meeting their demands, while over 900 continue to strike. The prisoners are protesting for better conditions, including medical care and phone access.
- The hunger strike began on April 17.
- Israeli authorities plan to establish 400 medical units in prisons.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Palestinian prisoners have frequently used hunger strikes as a form of protest against conditions in Israeli prisons. These strikes often draw international attention and highlight broader Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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