RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A prisoner detained in Israel for 31 years has suspended his hunger strike, the PA Ministry of Detainee Affairs said Wednesday.

Maher Younis, a 54-year-old from a town in Israel, went on hunger strike on Feb. 24 but ended the protest at the request of President Mahmoud Abbas, the ministry said in a statement.

According to the Ahrar center for prisoner rights, Younis started the strike to send a message to the Palestinian leadership and draw attention to long-serving prisoners who have been neglected in prisoner swap deals.