Israeli authorities released former hunger-striking prisoner Malik al-Qadi to Palestinian medics on Saturday, September 24, prior to his transfer to a hospital in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Saturday morning that its staff was transferring al-Qadi from the Israeli Wolfson Medical Center south of Tel Aviv to the Istishari Arab Hospital in the city of Ramallah. Al-Qadi’s health is dire after his having gone without food for 68 days in protest of his being held in administrative detention – internment without trial or charges – by Israel.

Palestinian activists demonstrate in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, Ramallah, West Bank, September 11, 2016. The placard to the right reads: “Your face is pale but emanates light.” (Photo: Activestills)

According to the Palestinian news agency Ma’an, al-Qadi ended his hunger strike on Wednesday, along with fellow prisoners Muhammad and Mahmoud Balboul, after reaching an agreement with the Israeli prisons services not to renew their administrative detentions. Muhammad Balboul, 26, had refused food for 77 days since July 7, while his 23-year-old brother Mahmoud had been on hunger strike 79 days since July 5. In solidarity with the two brothers, al-Qadi, 25, declared his hunger strike on July 16.

The three launched their hunger strikes amid a mass movement across Israeli prisons in solidarity with hunger-striking prisoner Bilal Kayed, who ended his hunger strike after 71 days following a deal with Israel to end his administrative detention sentence. Kayed had been sentenced to six months of administrative detention on June 13, the day he was to have been released after completing more than 14 years in prison. Kayed, now reportedly due to be released on December 12, was one of the most high-profile hunger strikers since Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qiq nearly died during a 94-day hunger strike protesting his own administrative detention, before he was finally released in May.

According to Addameer, a Palestinian NGO offering support for Palestinian prisoners and victims of torture, as of August, 7,000 Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons, 700 of whom were being held under administrative detention.