Supporters of hunger strike prisoner rejoice over release deal

(21 Feb 2012) SHOTLIST 1. Mid of mother of Palestinian prisoner Ibrahim Barood rejoicing after she heard the news of Khader Adnan's expected release from jail, taking hope from it that her son may be released 2. Mid of women clapping hands and chanting 3. Various of men celebrating, holding pictures of Adnan 4. Mid of women clapping and chanting 5. Wide of men surrounded by wall of banners 6. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) no name given, mother of Ibrahim Barood: "I feel, I am so happy for this release. It feels as though my own son has been released from jail. My son has been in jail for 27 years and he's still in the prison. It feel as if he has been released and I'm hugging him now." 7. Mid of men sat at rally 8. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ibrahim Al Najjar, Islamic Jihad leader: "We hope that news of the release is true and correct. We are all happy - the release of this great prisoner, a great leader, is a victory. His hunger strike and determination does credit to our people. His determination and resistance is a victory for Palestinians and the Palestinian cause. It's a victory against the (Israeli) jail and against this administrative arrest." 9. Wide of rally STORYLINE: Palestinians rejoiced in Gaza on Tuesday as they received news that a prisoner, Khader Adnan, would end his hunger strike and be freed by Israel. The 33-year-old had been on hunger strike for 66 days in protest at being imprisoned without charge, but agreed to stop after reaching a deal with Israel that will see him released in April, the Israeli Justice Ministry said on Tuesday. The agreement ended a tense standoff that had drawn attention to a controversial Israeli policy of holding suspected Palestinian militants without charge. Under the deal struck with military prosecutors, Adnan agreed to resume eating immediately, ending his two-month hunger strike. Islamic Jihad leader Ibrahim Al Najjar said that everyone was happy to hear the news of Adnan's upcoming release. "It's a victory for Palestinians and the Palestinian cause," he said. The mother of Ibrahim Barood - another prisoner held in Israel - said Adnan's release gave her hope. "My son has been in jail for 27 years and he's still in the prison. It feels as if he has been released and I'm hugging him now," she added. Adnan was a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, a militant group that has killed dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks, but it is not known whether he participated in violent acts. The statement said that if no new additional substantial evidence emerged against Adnan, he would be released on April 17. The Justice Ministry said Adnan, who remains in hospital, accepted the deal through his lawyer. Adnan was arrested at his West Bank home on 17 December and launched his hunger strike the following day. He said he was protesting Israel's policy of "administrative detentions," in which it holds suspected Palestinian militants for months, and even years, without charge. Adnan also claimed to have been beaten and humiliated in prison. Israel has said Adnan was suspected of acts that "threaten regional security" without elaborating. It has not responded to the abuse allegations. Israel has defended the policy of administrative detentions as a necessary tool to stop militant activity. Adnan's latest protest was the longest hunger strike ever by a Palestinian prisoner. There are some 300 Palestinians in Israeli administrative detention. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...