Palestinian Prisoners End Hunger Strike in Israel After 40 Days<br />About 1,000 men had taken part in the strike, and Israeli officials said this past week<br />that nearly every prisoner had needed hospital care, including the leader of the strike, Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian politician convicted of five murders in the Palestinian uprising that began in 2000.<br />By IAN FISHERMAY 27, 2017<br />JERUSALEM — Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails ended a hunger strike late on Friday after 40 days, as their health was deteriorating<br />and after, news media reports said, the authorities agreed to at least one of the prisoners’ demands.<br />The striking prisoners had limited themselves to water and salt, although Israeli officials said<br />that Mr. Barghouti had violated the strike at least twice, eating snacks placed in his cell.<br />Polls show that Mr. Barghouti, 57, who has been in prison since 2002, is the most popular<br />choice to replace Mahmoud Abbas, 82, president of the Palestinian Authority.<br />Palestinian officials and his family denied the accusations, saying that videos purportedly showing Mr. Barghouti eating were faked.<br />In a statement on Saturday, Mr. Barghouti confirmed the end of the hunger strike, timed<br />to coincide with the beginning of Ramadan, the holy Muslim month of fasting.
