BICOM

A Palestinian militant affiliated to the armed militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad called off a 66-day hunger strike after reaching a deal with the Israeli Justice Ministry. Khader Adnan, who was under administrative detention, is set to be released 16 April if no new evidence is brought against him.

An Israeli official said that Adnan has been jailed seven times for his involvement in Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed organisation considered a terrorist group by the US, Canada, European Union and Israel. The official added there was concern, however, about the fallout if Adnan died. Israel also faced protests from foreign governments and nongovernmental groups.

Adnan’s petition to Israel’s Supreme Court had highlighted Israel’s controversial use of administrative detention, a decades-old emergency provision permitting arrest without a formal indictment or trial.