Palestinians held in Israeli jails end hunger strike

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1,000 Palestinians ended a mass hunger strike on Saturday against the detention center conditions.

The strike ended at the onset of Ramadan and after the agreement to allow two family visits per month, said Israeli officials

The strike was led by a Palestinian leader, Marwan Barghouti, who was jailed for life for committing five murders.

Some 1,187 detainees observed the strike starting on April 17, the annual Palestinian Prisoners Day, according to Israeli prison service.

The issue of Palestinians held in Israeli jails is an ongoing source of tension between the two sides. Palestinians regard the detainees as political prisoners whereas Israel charges them of criminal conduct.  Others are detained under so-called Administrative Detention, which allows suspects to be held without charge for a six-month period.

There were around 7000 Palestinians held in prisons by Israeli authorities by the end of 2016.