Hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners Malik al-Qadi and brothers Muhammad and Mahmoud Balboul have ended their hunger strikes on Wednesday, which they began in July in protest of their administrative detention.
Muhammad Balboul, 26, had been on hunger strike for 77 days since July 7, his 23-year-old brother Mahmoud had been on strike for 79 days since July 5, and 25-year-old Malik al-Qadi declared his hunger strike on July 16, spending 68 days without food.
Head of the Palestinian Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Issa Qaraqe, said in a statement that Muhammad and Mahmoud al-Balboul were set to be released on December 8, while Malik al-Qadi would be released on September 22, and that all three of their administrative detentions would not be renewed.
#Victory
Brothers Mohammed & Mohmoud Balboul, & Malak Qadi suspend their hunger strike after israel agreed dates for release pic.twitter.com/GzSf9YmTFv— Abbs Winston (@AbbsWinston) September 21, 2016
Qaraqe attributed the success to the efforts of the Palestinian people and their leadership, and national, regional, and international human rights organizations and national organizations involved in the ongoing campaign to pressure Israel to release the three prisoners.
All three men thanked the scores of prisoners who supported them by launching temporary hunger strikes in solidarity.
The Balboul and al-Qadi families also extended their gratitude to everyone who supported their sons in their struggle against administrative detention, and wished freedom to all Palestinian political prisoners, according to Qaraqe’s statement.
The 3 hunger-strikers' victory. Mahmoud & Mohammed al-Balboul & Malik al-Qadi. Just so relieved for their mums. https://t.co/mIeHDmIZJ8 pic.twitter.com/Sq8ZwHnfz3
— Ahdaf Soueif (@asoueif) September 21, 2016
Qaraqe added that a celebratory event would be taking place at Manger Square in the southern occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday evening, calling upon Palestinians to take part in the event.
(MA’AN, PC)
