Palestinian administrative detainee Jamal Abu Leil ends hunger strike in agreement

Palestinian prisoner Jamal Abu Leil ended his hunger strike on Sunday, 12 March in an agreement that he will be released after the end of his current administrative detention period, in August 2017. Abu Leil, 50, had refused food for 25 days and had been transferred to multiple prisons while held in solitary confinement.

A Fateh leader in Qalandiya refugee camp, Abu Leil has been imprisoned since 15 February 2016 in administrative detention without charge or trial. Jawad Boulos, of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, said that he had visited Abu Leil in Ramon prison and that he extended thanks and appreciation to all who supported him in his battle against administrative detention.

Abu Leil is a member of the Popular Committee in Qalandiya camp and an administrator of the Qalandiya youth center. He is a former member of the Fateh Revolutionary Council. He is one of over 600 Palestinian prisoners held without charge or trial under indefinitely-renewable administrative detention orders.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network congratulates Jamal Abu Leil and salutes all of the Palestinian prisoners behind bars struggling to achieve freedom and end injustice.