Palestinians halt 62-day hunger strike after deal

RAMALLAH, June 25 (AFP): Dozens of Palestinian prisoners who had refused food for 62 days have suspended their hunger strike after reaching a deal with the Israel Prisons Service, their lawyer told AFP.
The prisoners began refusing food on April 24 in protest at being held by Israel without charge or trial under a controversial procedure called administrative detention, which can be indefinitely extended for years.
"The strikers, who have reached an agreement with the Israeli prison authorities, have decided to suspend their action with the approach of Ramadan," Ashraf Abu Snena said, referring to the Muslim fasting month which begins this weekend.
Israel confirmed the agreement, details of which were to be made public later Wednesday.
"The hunger strike was suspended overnight," Israel Prisons Service (IPS) spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told AFP, saying the sides had reached a "short-term agreement."
"This arrangement does not involve any suspension or cancellation of the use of administrative detention," Weizman said. But the Palestinian prisoners' affairs minister said there could be limits to its use under the deal.