Israel agrees to deal to end Palestinian hunger strike

Occupied Jerusalem:  An Egyptian official says Israel has agreed to a proposal that would end a mass hunger strike by Palestinians in Israeli jails.

The official says the Egyptian-drafted proposal still needs to be approved by the prisoners.

Some 1,600 Palestinians held in Israeli jails are striking, most for a month, but two men have refused food two for more than 70 days.

Out of solitary confinement

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Sunday that under the deal Israel will move prisoners currently in solitary confinement to regular cells.

Israel also would soften its "administrative detention" policy, under which prisoners deemed a security risk can be held without charges, the source said.

Israeli officials would not comment.