Israel gov't approves bill to force feed security prisoners on hunger strike

The Israeli government on Sunday voted in favor of adopting a controversial bill allowing Israeli authorities to force feed security prisoners who are on hunger strike.

Under the bill, authorities could force-feed prisoners on hunger strike through intravenous infusion or a feeding tube if their lives were in jeopardy, even against their wishes.

It specifically applies to security prisoners, namely Palestinians serving time in Israeli jails for security-related offenses.

According to the Israeli Prison Service, there are around 5,000 Palestinians serving prison terms in Israel, deemed heroes of the resistance against the Israeli occupation by many in the Palestinian population.

The purpose of the bill is to prevent Palestinian prisoners from attaining any leverage on authorities with their causes and hindering any Palestinian uprising in cases of prisoners' death as a result of the hunger strike.

The bill, now adopted by the government, would now move on for discussion and more rounds of voting by the Israeli Knesset (parliament), the legislative body.

"Security prisoners are interested in turning hunger strike into a new kind of suicide bombing through which they can threaten the state of Israel," Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who promoted the bill, said after Sunday's vote, the Haaretz daily reported.

"We will not allow anyone to threaten us and will not let prisoners die in our prisons," he added.

The previous government already promoted a similar law last year, but it was delayed amid the objection of then finance minister Yair Lapid of the center-left Yesh Atid Party.

The Israeli Association for Civil Rights said in response to the cabinet decision on Sunday that force-feeding prisoners is wrong as it hurts basic human rights, including the right of a person to resist treatment, his right for autonomy over his body and his dignity. It added that any decision on the matter should be received in consultations with medical teams.

In 2014, the World Medical Association called the proposal "an act of violence" as well as "inhumane" and "degrading." The bill was also rebuked by left-wing Israeli politicians, human rights groups, other ethical and medical tribunes and in the international community.

In April 2014, about 80 Palestinian administrative detainees who were jailed for secret security offenses without being indicted in a court for an undetermined period went on hunger strike protesting their conditions for two months, many of them were hospitalized. There are believed to be between 200 and 300 Palestinians in administrative detention.

In December 2013, Israel freed Samer Issawi after his eight-month hunger strike and deteriorating health conditions sparked numerous of protests by Palestinians calling for his release. Endit