Israel compensates family of prisoner killed in 2007

Israel's Prison Service has agreed to pay 1.2 million shekels to the family of an Islamic Jihad member shot fatally by guards at Ketziot security prison in 2007, an Israeli newspaper reported. Mohammed Ashkar, 30, died during a riot touched off by a controversial search at the prison, Haaretz reported. According to the report, the Tel Aviv District Court recently authorized a compensation agreement between the Prison Service and the wife and young son of Ashkar, from the village of Tzaida. But the State Prosecution's Office closed the case against the guards involved in the search, despite the death of the prisoner and over a dozen injured on both sides during the incident. Israel will also not officially accept responsibility for the death, Haaretz reported. The decision comes as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike protesting poor treatment in Israeli jails. On Thursday, the UN envoy in Jerusalem said he was deeply troubled by reports about the critical condition of at least two Palestinian prisoners being held in administrative detention. "Above all, he urges all sides to find a solution before it is too late, and calls on Israel to abide by its legal obligations under international law," a spokesman said in a statement.