Israel frees Palestinian former hunger-strikers

An Israeli military appeals court on Thursday ordered the release of two Palestinian prisoners held without trial since November, who had staged a three-month hunger strike, a prisoners’ rights group said.

Sarahna Amani, a spokesman for the Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners’ Club told AFP that Jaafar Ezzeddine and Tariq Qaadan would be freed on May 8.

The men ended a 90-day fast in February after being promised a hearing on their case.

Under what Israel calls “administrative detention” suspects can be imprisoned without trial by order of a military court. Such orders can be renewed indefinitely for six months at a time.

Israeli news Website NRG quoted Ezzeddine and Qaadan’s lawyer as saying that their initial six-month term was due to expire on May 22 but they feared that it would be extended and therefore launched their protest fast and legal campaign.