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Palestinian prisoner to end hunger strike

JERUSALEM, April 23 (UPI) -- A Palestinian prisoner agreed to end an 8-month-long hunger strike in exchange for early release from prison, officials said.

Samer Issawi, 32, agreed to a deal brokered by Israeli and Palestinian officials Monday night to serve eight months for violating parole conditions and then be released to his home in Jerusalem, Haaretz reported.

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Issawi's lawyer, Jawad Boulos, said details of the agreement will be presented to the Ofer military court Tuesday and that Issawi will end his hunger strike after the deal is signed, Israel Radio reported.

Issawi was hospitalized Monday after his condition deteriorated.

In 2002, Issawi was sentenced to 26 years in prison for his role in shooting attacks against Israelis. He was released in October 2011 in a prisoner exchange deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held captive by Hamas in Gaza for more than five years.

The terms of Issawi's release barred him from leaving the Jerusalem area. However, last July he was arrested for violating the parole conditions after he traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank. An Israeli court ordered Issawi to serve out the remainder of his initial sentence, which meant he would remain in prison until the end of 2028, for violating parole.

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