End of Hunger Strike Does Not Include the 6 Prisoners under Administrative Arrest

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The Palestinian Islamic Jihad prisoners held in the Israeli occupation prisons suspended their hunger strike, as confirmed by Qadura Fares, the chair of the Palestinian Prisoners Club. The prisoners amounted to 270, and Fares clarified that the hunger strike only involved PIJ's prisoners.

The suspension of the hunger strike does not involve the 6 administratively detained prisoners, Fares told Al Mayadeen. The official clarified that the reason being was that their demands were distinct from those of the PIJ's prisoners.

Regarding the latest developments on the prisoner exchange deal, Fares asserted that the current Israeli government does not have the will to make a decision. He also believes that the ruling Israeli coalition is weak; therefore, he sees that all the governmental decisions could be taken after the voting on the annual Israeli budget.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club issued a statement on Friday in which it said the most prominent demands were stopping the violations against PIJ's prisoners, canceling the collective punishments the occupation imposed on them since Operation Freedom Tunnel, and releasing all of the prisoners held in administrative detention.

The demands also included canceling all financial penalties, allowing visitation, and pledging not to press charges against prisoners who confronted the occupation by setting their rooms on fire. 

According to the statement, the most important demand was preserving the organizational structure of the PIJ prisoners.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement Friday morning, announcing the end of the open hunger strike 9 days after its start.

Fares also asserted that there are 4,600 prisoners in the Israeli occupation's prisons, 600 prisoners of which are ill, and 50 of those are in critical condition. The Israeli occupation also has 220 children and 37 women in the Israeli prisons.