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Israel extends detention of Palestinian prisoner who was on 172-day hunger strike

AN ISRAELI court has extended the detention of Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh, who ended a 172-day hunger strike in August, days before his expected release.

Mr Awawdeh was due to be freed on October 2, but the magistrates’ court in Rishon LeZion, near Tel Aviv, ruled on Wednesday that he would be held until at least October 9.

According to prisoners’ rights groups and his family, Mr Awawdeh’s imprisonment was extended because he had allegedly attempted to take the mobile phone he had at Assaf Harofeh hospital with him to Ramla prison clinic when he was transferred there.

His wife Dalal said: “We feel frustration and pain. This is an occupation and it’s not new to us that they are trying to ruin the joy and Khalil’s triumph, in that he seized his freedom from them.”

Mr Awawdeh was placed in so-called administrative detention by Israeli forces last December.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of being part of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance group, an allegation Mr Awawdeh denies.

He ended a 172-day hunger strike on August 24 after prison authorities agreed not to renew his detention order, which was due to expire on October 2.

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