Palestinian children demonstrating in support of the political prisoners held in Israel. (WAFA Images / Mustafa Abu Dayyah) 

RAMALLAH, Thursday, May 02, 2019 (WAFA) – Two Palestinians held in administrative detention in Israel without charge or trial and who have been on hunger strike to protest their open-ended detention have called off their fast after reaching a deal with the Israeli authorities for their release, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Commission.

It said Hussam Muhsen al-Razzah, 61, from Nablus who was placed in administrative detention since April 17 of last year and who has been on hunger strike for 45 days, ended his strike after he was promised to be released on July 13, the end of his current detention period.

Mohammad Tabanjeh, 38, a father of two who is also from Nablus and held in administrative detention since June 28, 2018, went on hunger strike on 25 March but has also called off his fast today after he was promised to be released on June 26.

Before reaching the deal and announcing his end to the strike, the Prisoners’ Commission said that Razzah’s health was deteriorating rapidly with high blood pressure as well as infection in the liver and lungs and had lost 25 kilograms of his weight.

It said Razzah even refused to drink water for seven days to protest his solitary confinement, torture and mistreatment.

Razzah, a father of four, had spent a total of 18 years in Israeli prisons for his role in the resistance.

Meanwhile, Hasan Owawi, 38, from Hebron, detained since January 15 and a father of three, remains on hunger strike started on April 2; and Odeh Hroub, 32, a father of 10 from the Hebron district and detained since December of last year, also remains on hunger strike started on April 2 to protest their not-ending administrative detention.

Hundreds of Palestinians held in indefinite administrative detention by Israel believe that the only way to end this flagrant violation of their human and civil right of holding them in open-ended administrative detention without charge or trial and based on secret evidence not even their lawyers are allowed to see, is by going on hunger strike. The majority have succeeded in their endeavor, some after only weeks and others after several months of hunger strike that has almost killed them.

M.K.