Resolution to Palestinian prisoner protest near, Fatah official says

Israeli officials and a committee representing hunger striking Palestinian prisoners were in the final stages of negotiating a resolution to the prisoners’ demands, Maan News Agency reported on Sunday evening.

Senior Fatah official Azzam Al-Ahmad told Palestinian news agency Ma’an Sunday evening that they expect Israel and the strikers to sign an agreement to end solitary confinement, improve prison conditions, and permit family visits.

Egyptian mediators are reportedly negotiating with Israeli officials, in coordination with Palestinian counterparts.

According to the report, any agreement between Egyptian and Israeli representatives would have to be approved by the hunger striking prisoner committee, composed of high profile prisoners from Palestinian political factions.

Two men, Thaer Halahleh and Bilal Diab, have been on strike for over 70 days. Both are members of Islamic Jihad, a violent Palestinian terror group that has killed hundreds and maimed many more in suicide bombings, shootings and other attacks.

It is unclear whether Halahleh and Diab were involved in any terror activity because they are being held under “administrative detention,” a policy under which some Palestinian prisoners can remain in custody for months without charges. Israel has defended administrative detentions as a necessary measure to stop terror activity.

Approximately 1,600 prisoners in Israeli jails launched a joint hunger strike last month demanding better conditions and putting an end to detention without trial.

Israel has come under significant pressure from the international community to find a solution that would end the hunger strike.

Palestinian terror factions have warned that they would retaliate violently if any of the prisoners died as a result of the strike.

President Mahmoud Abbas told a West Bank rally on Thursday that if anyone is harmed, “we will not be quiet ever.” He did not elaborate.