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NABLUS (Ma'an) -- The Israeli authorities released Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan on Sunday, two weeks after a deal was reached that ended his 55-day long hunger strike.

Adnan, 37, went on hunger strike in June to protest the Israeli practice of administrative detention, under which Palestinians can be held without charge or trials for months or years. His release Sunday came after 11 months in Israeli custody, without charge or trial.

Adnan was taken in an Israeli military vehicle to a crossroads near the village of Arraba south of Jenin, where he was received by the director of the Palestinian military liaison office of Jenin and Tubas, Mujahid Abu Dayya.

Palestinian security sources told Ma'an that the Israeli authorities released Adnan "secretly" and even his family was not aware of the time he would be released.

"The Israelis wanted to prevent celebrations," they said

dnan refused to talk to journalists upon his release. Locals said that Adnan’s refusal to give comment was stipulated by the Israeli authorities as part of their agreement to release him.

Adnan was detained in July last year and sentenced to administrative detention for the 10th time in his life.

He had previously gone on hunger strike for 66 days in 2012 to protest the practice. He was released at the end of the strike, during which he had ingested vitamins and salt.

This time, he refused to swallow anything except water.

Despite sharply deteriorating health, he said he would continue the hunger strike until the Israeli authorities agreed either to release him or bring charges against him.

A deal was finally struck on June 29 after Adnan withdrew his demand that Israel agree to never place him under administrative detention again.

An Israeli official said Adnan's deteriorating health and appeals from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Palestinian Authority had contributed to the decision to release him.

After the deal was reached, Adnan's wife told Ma'an: "All the guarantees which Sheikh Khader asked for have been obtained, and so he triumphed over the occupation state after 55 days of hunger strike."
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by Jack Khoury for Haaretz

A Palestinian security detainee who spent 55 days on a hunger strike was released from Israeli custody early on Sunday.

Khader Adnan ended his hunger strike late last month after reaching a deal with the Israeli military prosecution that secured his release.

Upon his release he was taken to the hospital in Jenin for a medical examination.

Adnad's family said it didn't know at what time he was to be freed, adding that Israeli authorities intended to release him early in the day to prevent demonstrations of support.

Nevertheless, a festive reception was to be held for Adnan in his hometown of Arraba. His return is taking place less than a week before the Muslim Id al-Fitr holiday, which concludes the holy month of Ramadan.

Prior to reaching a deal with the military prosecution and ending his hunger strike on June 29, Adnan's medical condition took a turn for the worse. Adnan refused to take water or minerals, and refused to be examined by a physician. Medical literature indicates that after the 42nd day of such a hunger strike there are liable to be life-threatening complications.

The Shin Bet security service believes Adnan is an active member of Islamic Jihad. He was placed under administrative detention for the ninth time a year ago, and finally went on hunger strike to protest his prolonged incarceration without trial. Three years ago, also under administrative detention, he forced the authorities to release him after a hunger strike that lasted 66 days. Altogether he has spent more than six years in Israeli detention.