EGYPT has brokered a deal aimed at ending a hunger strike by 1600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, a Palestinian source close to the negotiations said yesterday.
One in three of the 4800 Palestinians serving time in Israeli jails began refusing food on April 17 in protest against detention without trial and to demand better conditions, including more family visits and an end to solitary confinement.
The strike has posed a challenge to Israel, which has faced international criticism over detention without trial and could face a violent Palestinian backlash if any of the protesters die.
The Palestinian source said that the deal included Israel's acceptance of the prisoners' demands.
Asked about a deal, an Israeli Prisons Service spokeswoman said: "The strike is still on ... we are not commenting on the process."
Thousands of people held a rally in Gaza yesterday in support of the hunger strikers.
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