Palestinians slam Israeli law to force-feed hunger striking prisoners
Palestinians have blasted an Israeli law that allows the Guantanamo-style force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners who are on hunger strike in Israeli jails.
On Thursday, Israel's parliament (Knesset) passed into law the legislation to force-feed prisoners on hunger strike.
The move has met fierce condemnations, with critics insisting that it is a form of torture to silence protesting inmates.
Issa Qaraqe, who heads the Palestinian Authority’s committee of prisoners’ affairs, on Thursday strongly condemned the Israeli law, saying it is tantamount to legalizing murder and sets a "very dangerous precedent."
“Force-feeding is unethical torture against prisoners that might lead to their death,” he said, adding that it is "an execution of prisoners who go on hunger strike."
The Palestinian official also said that the controversial law, which passed with a slim majority, contradicts all international treaties and conventions.
“The law aims to break prisoners’ hunger strikes by force-feeding them. They strike peacefully and for just demands," Qaraqe said.
Meanwhile, a senior official with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) also slammed the law as a “politically-motivated mechanism of torture which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and conventions."
Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement on Thursday that “feeding accompanied by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints is a form of inhuman and degrading treatment."
The law seeks to prevent imprisoned Palestinian prisoners from pressuring Israel by refusing food.
Israel has long been concerned that hunger strikes by Palestinians in its prisons could end in death and trigger waves of protests in the occupied lands.
More than 7,000 Palestinians are reportedly incarcerated in 17 Israeli prisons and detention centers, many of them without charge or trial.
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