Israel releases Palestinian prisoner after 131 days of hunger strike

Israeli authorities released on Sunday a Palestinian prisoner who was on hunger strike for 131 days in protest of his of his detentions without charge or trial, sources said.

On November 23, Kayed al-Fasfous, 32, ended his hunger strike after reaching an agreement with Israeli authorities to end his administrative detention.

Al-Fasfous was freed at an Israeli checkpoint to the south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank and was welcomed by Palestinian political and security officials as well as representatives of factions.

"The Israeli occupation was not able to break me. But I broke it by my empty intestines and achieved a victory over it," al-Fasfous told The New Arab.

Israeli authorities were set to release al-Fasfous in mid-December, but they freed him earlier following pressure from the Palestinian leadership so that he can receive treatment in hospital following a deterioration of his health.

Al-Fasfous served a total of five years in Israeli prisons without charge or trial, and reportedly lost about 45 kg of weight during his hunger strike.

"Al-Fasfous will be transferred to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah to follow up on his health condition and to perform the necessary examinations," the Palestinian Prisoners Club said in a press statement sent to TNA.

The PPC explained that there are 4,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, about 500 of whom are serving administrative detention order, without charge or trial.