Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails call off planned hunger strike

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have called off a planned hunger strike later this week involving some 1,400 inmates after their demands were met, a Palestinian group said Wednesday.

Tensions have been running high since six militants staged a dramatic escape from a high-security jail in northern Israel on September 6, via a tunnel dug under a sink. Four of them have since been recaptured.

Hundreds of their fellow inmates were transferred to other jails, and personal items were confiscated, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The Palestinian Authority’s commission for prisoners had announced plans for a hunger strike from Friday.

Some 1,380 prisoners - out of more than 4,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails - were to start fasting on Friday, to be joined by other inmates next week.

On Wednesday, however, the Prisoners’ Club said it had been decided to “suspend the collective hunger strike after the demands were met” including a “cessation of the collective punishments.”

An Israel Prison Service spokesman said that as of Wednesday there was no indication that a hunger strike was set to begin, but refused to comment on the claim that prisoners’ demands had been met.

Read more:

Almost 1,400 Palestinians in Israel jails to go on hunger strike

The six Palestinians who staged Hollywood-style escape from Israeli prison

Israeli police capture two more Palestinians who escaped high-security prison