Around 100 Fatah prisoners have ended their hunger strike as of this morning, according to the Israel Prisons Service.
The hunger strike, which began on Monday, has been led by popular Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for murder over his role orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli citizens during the Second Intifada.
The total number of inmates who have refused food in protest of their conditions to 1,200-1,300.
He began to call for a strike after talks between prisoners’ representatives and the Israel Prisons Service on improving jail conditions reached a deadlock. The talks began more than a year and a half ago.
Among the demands from Barghouti and the prisoners are the resumption of a second monthly visit by family members (a benefit that was cancelled by the International Committee of the Red Cross due to budget cuts), the prevention of family meetings being cancelled for security reasons, and the restoration of academic studies and matriculation exams to prisoners.
Other demands include more television channels being available in cells, and cell phones in security wings.
According to reports, Israel is allowing all strikers, including Barghouti, access to lawyers, in a reversal of its previous position. Some 6,500 Palestinians are currently detained by Israel for a range of terror offences and crimes.
