Israel frees Palestinian hunger striker
Jul 11, 2015, 11:42 PM
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israel has released a Palestinian prisoner who recently ended a 55-day hunger strike.
Looking thin and pale, Khader Adnan was transferred in an Israeli ambulance Sunday and handed to the Palestinian medical service. The senior member of Islamic Jihad had been held for more than a year in Israeli administrative detention. Adnan’s protests, which included a previous 66-day hunger strike, drew attention to Israel’s practice of holding Palestinians without trial or charges. He ended his latest strike two weeks ago in return for a promise to free him.
Adnan was originally scheduled to be released Saturday but Israel delayed it until early Sunday, apparently to avoid celebrations by his supporters.
Islamic Jihad is responsible for deadly attacks on Israelis. Israel says administrative detentions are an important tool against Palestinian militants.
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