Most Palestinian hunger strikers agree to a deal brokered by Egypt and Jordan to halt their strike in exchange for agreement from Israel: (1) to free 320 administrative detainees at the end of their current 6-mo. sentences, provided no new evidence against them is found; (2) to end solitary confinements; (3) to allow prisoners from Gaza to receive visits from immediate relatives (family visits from Gaza were suspended in 2006 after Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured), and (4) to return the bodies of 100 Palestinians who were killed in fighting in Israel and buried there. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank take to the streets to celebrate. At least 8 Palestinian detainees who went on strike before the mass hunger strike was declared on 4/17 are expected to continue their fasts until they are released—these include Islamic Jihad’s Diab and Halahleh who have not eaten for 77 days and are hospitalized in critical condition. (NYT, WP 5/15)
Israel allows Gazans to export textiles for the 1st time since mid-2007. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 5/17; OCHA 5/18)