The Battle of Breaking the Chains, the hunger strike conducted by Palestinian administrative detainees held without charge or trial, has concluded with an agreement reached between representatives of the prisoners and of Israeli military intelligence, reported the PLO Prisoners’ Affairs Committee and Handala Center for Prisoners and Released Prisoners on Tuesday, 29 September.

Under the agreement, all restrictions and repressive measures including solitary confinement, forced transfers, closing of cells, denial of family visits and confiscation of belongings will end. Nidal Abu Aker will be released on 10 December, Ghassan Zawahreh on 30 November, and the administrative detention of Munir Abu Sharar, Badr al-Ruzza, Shadi Ma’ali, Bilal al-Saifi and Suleiman Skafi will not be renewed following 3-4 months from the time of the agreement.

Israeli officials had reportedly refused to transfer any of the hunger strikers to hospital after 40 days of strike and severe health consequences, imprisoning them instead in solitary confinement and closing their fresh air vents, as well as denying them cold water.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes the bravery and steadfastness of the strikers and all of the thousands of Palestinian political prisoners struggling for justice, liberation and freedom, for all of the prisoners and for Palestine itself and all of its people.