A group of 63 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons last night agreed to end a high-profile hunger strike, although the conditions of the agreement with the Israel Prisons Services have not yet been disclosed.

Around 125 prisoners began their hunger strike in late April. Since then, around 70 have been hospitalised. The strike was launched to protest Israel’s use of administrative detention, under which Israeli authorities can detain suspects of security related offences for an unspecified amount of time. The condition of Palestinian prisoners is an emotive issue in Palestinian society and previous hunger strikes have sparked popular protests.

However, Abu Snena, a lawyer for the prisoners announced last night, “The strikers, who have reached an agreement with the Israeli prison authorities, have decided to suspend their action with the approach of [the Muslim holy month of] Ramadan.” The details of the agreement will remain undisclosed until the medical condition of all strikers has been stabilised. According to Ynet, the Israel Prisons Service confirmed that an agreement to end the strike had been reached. The same report suggests that there will be no change in the administrative detention policy.

The hunger strike prompted the introduction of a controversial government-backed Knesset bill which would allow hunger strikers to be force-fed under certain circumstances. However, it is opposed by some Israeli medical professionals who say such action is medically unethical.

Although the bill passed a first Knesset vote, second and third votes have been delayed at the request of Yesh Atid, led by Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who wants more time for it to be discussed. In addition, the bill has been modified to include a clause which will allow force-feeding only if a doctor believes “there is a real possibility that within a short period of time risk to the life of the prisoner or serious irreversible disability will occur.”