Riots erupt over force-feeding of Palestinian hunger striking prisoner

Riots against the force-feeding of a prisoner on hunger strike broke out outside a hospital in a southern Israeli city Sunday, a spokesperson for Israeli police confirmed to Xinhua.

Over 200 people gathered outside Barzilay hospital in Ashkelon Sunday where Mohammad Allen, 31, is hospitalized in critical condition following his 61-day hunger strike.

Protestors called for his release and prevention of the authorities' intention to force-feed him, amid a recent law legislated by Israel's parliament.

Witnesses told the Walla! news website that protesters hurled stones at Israeli security forces, who tried, in response, to disperse the rioters using pepper spray.

Over 10 protesters were arrested, but no injuries nor damages were reported as of press time.

A spokesperson for the police told Xinhua that the main entrance to the southern Israeli town became blocked during the clashes.

Mohamad Allen, a Palestinian lawyer allegedly affiliated with the militant Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, went on a hunger strike 61 days ago protesting his custody under administrative detention, then his condition took a turn for the worse Friday.

Administrative detention is the means used by Israeli security services in detaining terror suspects without trial for a defined period which can be repeatedly extended amid security concerns.

Allen has been under administrative detention since November 2014.

Allen's attorney, Carmel Natur, petitioned the Supreme Court calling for his client's release due to his deteriorating health.

"Since our last visit Thursday, Mohamad's condition dramatically deteriorated," Natur told the Walla! news website. "The very fact that they are considering force-feeding him declares that his life is in danger."

The Knesset (parliament) authorized a law July 30, allowing a district court judge to authorize the force-feeding of a prisoner who goes on a hunger strike.

The bill's aim is to prevent the death of prisoners on hunger strikes, avoid violent outbursts in Palestinian territories in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and prevent prisoners from using hunger strikes as a means for their release.

The bill was approved less than a month after Israel was forced to release Khader Adnan, a famous former Palestinian prisoner, whose 56-day-long hunger strike brought him to the brink of death.

The law drew harsh criticism from both local and international medical associations.

The Director of Barzilay hospital, Dr. Hezi Levi, told Arab legislator Ahmed Tibi last week, that hospital doctors will not force-feed prisoners against their wishes, despite authorities' wishes to implement the law.

Sorokoa hospital doctors in Be'er Sheva, where Allan was hospitalized before his current stay at Barzilay, also declared their refusal to force-feed Allen over ethical concerns.

Hunger strikes are a common practice among Palestinian security prisoners, especially those in administrative detention.

There exist over 5,000 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated over security charges in Israel.

Those prisoners are revered by many Palestinians as freedom fighters, fighting for Palestinian peoples' national ambitions, as they have been living under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Mideast war. Endit