Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike freed, returns to Gaza

Large groups gather near border to show their support for Akram Rikhawi A Palestinian prisoner who spent 100 days on hunger strike last year was released on Thursday. Akram Rikhawi crossed through the Erez crossing into Gaza to a public reception of political officials representing all the resistance groups after nine years in an Israeli jail.
In a short address, Rikhawi stressed the need to support other Palestinians on hunger strike in Israeli jails, noting the difficult conditions in Ramle Prison Hospital.
The 39-year-old, from Rafah, was then transferred to Dar al-Shifa hospital by ambulance for a medical check-up.
Father of eight Rekhawi suffers from diabetes, asthma and osteoporosis and has been held in Ramle prison clinic throughout his detention since 2004.
On Wednesday, the International Solidarity Foundation for Human Rights reported that an Israeli court decided to release Rikhawi.
The Foundation said that the decision to release him was made after its attorney, Mohammad al-Abed, filed an appeal in an Israeli court close to the Ramle Prison Hospital where the detainee was held.
Rikhawi held several extended hunger strikes demanding his release because Israel refused to release him after he had spent two-thirds of a nine-year sentence.
He was arrested by Israeli army when he was heading home in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, on June 7, 2004, and was sentenced to nine years.
On Monday July 23 2012, Rikhawi ended a 104-day hunger strike after reaching an agreement with the Israeli Prison Service, stating that he will be released on January 25 2013 instead of June 6 2013. He resumed his strike after Israel backed down on its promise.
His brother, Shadi, was also arrested by the Israeli army on April 6, 2005, and was sentenced to twelve years; medical reports have revealed he has a brain tumour.