Israel releases Palestinian detainee on hunger strike

Mohammed al-Rimawi was released from Ashkelon interrogation center along with his father

Israel releases Palestinian detainee on hunger strike

Israel has released a Palestinian detainee who had been on a hunger strike and his father, a lawyer for a Palestinian non-governmental organization said Wednesday.

Khader Diabis, with the Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, said in a written statement that 27-year-old Mohammed al-Rimawi and his father, Nimer Mohammed, 54, have been freed from the Ashkelon interrogation center.

It is reported that al-Rimawi, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days, was released because his health had deteriorated.

His father had been detained to persuade his son to end the hunger strike and was also forced to confess to crimes he didn't commit.

Al-Rimawi had previously served three years in Israeli prisons.