Jordanian detained in Israel to end hunger strike after release pledge

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Monday that Heba al-Labadi, 24, and Abdul Rahman Miri, 28, will return to Jordan "before the end of the week", but did not specify when.

Israel arrested Labadi on 20 August and Miri on 2 September. They're being held in administrative detention, which allows for open-ended detentions without filing charges against people suspected of security offenses.

Israel confirmed the release of the two Jordanian nationals following Safadi's announcement.

Safadi said Labadi and Mehdi's release was secured after a long process of intense negotiation, and that Jordan's King Abdullah II did everything he could for their release.

Last week, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultation to protest the detentions, further straining the tense ties between the two neighbours, who signed a peace treaty 25 years ago.

According to Amman, al-Labadi and Merhi were arrested at a crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel has not given reasons for their detention.

According to Jordanian media, Labadi health suffered as a result of her hunger strike, while Mehri, who was arrested in September, is suffering from cancer.

Labadi was arrested at the Allenby Bridge - also known as King Hussein crossing - in August while travelling with her mother and aunt from Jordan to the West Bank for a cousin's wedding.

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees' Affairs in October released disturbing details of the alleged torture suffered by Hiba al-Labadi at the hands of Israeli authorities.

The department published a statement by al-Labadi from 29 September in which she reported being verbally, physically, and psychologically abused by the interrogators and guards in the various prisons in which she has been held in administrative detention since 20 August.

Israel's widely condemned policy of administrative detention allows Palestinians to be detained without charge or trial for renewable intervals usually ranging between three to six months.

Read more: Palestinian hunger strikers: The frontline of an imprisoned nation

More than 400 Palestinians are being currently being held under the policy.

Jordan is one of only two Arab countries - along with Egypt - to have a peace treaty with Israel.

This story was updated to include the Palestinian Prisoners Club announcement that Heba al-Labadi had ended her hunger strike.