Knesset passes first reading of bill that allows force-feeding hunger striking prisoners

The Israeli parliament on Monday passed the first reading of a bill that would permit the force-feeding of prisoners on hunger strike.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are either tried in the occupation’s military court system or held in administrative detention without trial or official charges, and thus often go on hunger strike to protest against their unjust detention and denial of rights.

Al-Alam Online news website reported that the new bill is being supported by the ruling coalition after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered for the bill to be drafted and presented at the Knesset during a recent political security cabinet meeting.

However, the bill also had vocal dissenters. Arab Member of Knesset Ahmed Al-Tibi expressed his strong opposition to the bill and asked for permission to screen a video that reveals the brutality of force-feeding prisoners who are on hunger strike.

Israel’s National Bioethics Council said that it opposes the bill because it is every detainee’s right to go on hunger strike, and the president of the Israeli Medical Association said that “this law is unnecessary, it can be harmful and … I believe it will not be implemented because Israeli doctors are not going to cooperate,” Israel National News reported.

International organisations also weighed into the debate, speaking out against the bill.

The International Committee of the Red Cross called for trying doctors who take part in force-feeding the hunger strikers.

In addition, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and the right to health, Juan Méndez, urged MKs to reject the bill, saying that: “It is not acceptable to force-feed or use threats of force-feeding or other physical or psychological coercion against individuals who have opted for the extreme recourse of a hunger strike to protest against their detention without charge and conditions of detention and treatment.”