Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh refuses to end hunger strike despite freeze on his administrative detention

Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh has said he will persist with his hunger strike despite an Israeli military decision on Friday to freeze his administrative detention.

Awawdeh, who on Friday began the 170th day of his hunger strike, said he would not end his protest until he is freed outright.

"I went on strike for freedom, and I have sacrificed a lot for the dearest and strongest need, freedom… My abstinence from food is not a rejection of life, but rather a rejection of chains," Awawdeh said in a message to Palestinians sent through his lawyer, Ahlam Haddad.

The Israeli military courts suspended Awawdeh's administrative detention order due to his deteriorating health, detainee rights monitor the Palestinian Prisoners Club said Friday.

Despite the freeze on his detention, Awawdeh will remain under hospital security guard, and he can be placed back in administrative detention as soon as his health improves, the monitor added.

Awadeh was detained on 27 December last year near Hebron in the southern West Bank. He has since been subjected to abuse by prison authorities, such as solitary confinement.

The Israeli Police Service has refused multiple requests to end his administrative detention.

Around 650 out of the 4,550 Palestinian political prisoners are being held in Israeli administrative detention without charge or trial, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network.

Under the administrative detention order, Israel imprisons Palestinians for six months at a time, though this can be extended indefinitely.

Israel says administrative detention allows authorities to hold alleged suspects in a measure to "prevent attacks" while continuing to gather evidence.

Rights groups say such a system is abusive to Palestinian children, who are mostly arrested on suspicion of throwing stones.

Among the total Palestinians are held in Palestinian prisons are 32 women and 160 minors, according to human rights groups.