Hunger striker deported to Gaza

Ayman Al-Sharawneh arrived in the Gaza Strip on Sunday having been deported from his home in the occupied West Bank as part of a deal with the Israeli prison authorities for ending his hunger strike. The ex-prisoner must stay in Gaza for 10 years before he might be allowed back to the West Bank.

Al-Sharawneh has been on hunger strike for several months in protest at prison conditions. His health had deteriorated badly as a result of his protest.

The brother of the released prisoner, Jihad Al-Sharawneh, told the media that his family is disappointed that he has been deported and not simply sent back to his home city of Hebron. The alternative would, he added, have seen his brother die in prison, such is the state of his health.

Israel re-arrested Al-Sharawneh after his release as part of the exchange deal signed between Hamas and Israel; he was then “re-sentenced” to 28 years in prison.

MEMO Photographer: Wisam Nassar