ISRAEL RELEASES PALESTINIAN PRISONER KHADER ADNAN

West Bank, 25 Ramadan 1436/12 July 2015 (MINA) – Israel late Saturday night released prominent Palestinian prisoner and hunger striker Khader Adnan.

According to witnesses, the Israeli authorities delivered Adnan to the village of Arraba, his hometown, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

“He was released amid heavy [Israeli] security to prevent any celebrations of his release,” eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency.

Last Month, Adnan, 37, ended a 55-day hunger strike after reaching an agreement with the Israeli authorities for his release on July 12, Middle East Monitor (Memo) reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

A member of Islamic Jihad, an armed Palestinian resistance group, Adnan was arrested by Israel in July of last year at an Israeli army checkpoint near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

Adnan – who had been arrested by Israel on a number of previous occasions and has waged several earlier hungers strikes while in detention – began his latest hunger strike on May 5 to protest his continued incarceration under Israel’s policy of “administrative detention.”

“My son is exhausted after his long hunger strike, but now he can take comfort in freedom and victory,” Adnan’s father, Adnan Musa, 75, told Anadolu Agency.

“What’s most important now is that he’s back with his family and people,” the relieved father added.

Following his release, Adnan was taken to a hospital in Jenin for a medical checkup.

Under Israel’s policy of administrative detention, Palestinian prisoners can be held for up to one year without trial.

Over 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in prisons throughout the self-proclaimed Jewish state, according to official Palestinian figures. (T/P002/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)