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News in Brief

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have continued to hold hunger strikes in protest at Israeli breaches of an agreement reached after the mass hunger strike that ended on 14 May.

The prison authorities have often released a prisoner or negotiated to end their strike at the last possible moment to avoid prisoner deaths.

Thus on 23 July, Akram Rikhawi ended his 102-day hunger strike after Israel agreed to his early release and Bilal Diab was released on 9 August after a 77-day fast.

On 26 August, prisoner Samer Al-Barq was on his 97th day hunger-striking; Hassan Safadi on his 67th day; and Samer al Issawi on his 26th day. Samer Al-Barq and Hassan Safadi had their administrative detention without trial renewed, in violation of the 14 May agreement.