Israel planning to force feed hunger striker

'Israel' may force feed a Palestinian hunger striker in a bid to prevent her from continuing her protest, Amnesty International said on Friday. The rights group condemned any attempts to force Hana Shalabi, who has been on hunger strike for 37 days in protest of her continued detention without trial, to eat as cruel and called on Israel to either charge or release her. "There are reports that the Israeli authorities may be considering force-feeding her, which could constitute cruel and inhuman treatment. As a general rule, hunger strikers should not be forcibly fed," a statement from the group said. Force feeding hunger strikers has been condemned by all major rights groups, but the United States repeatedly used the practice when prisoners refused food at Guantanamo Bay.

"The rights group condemned any attempts to force Hana Shalabi, who has been on hunger strike for 37 days in protest of her continued detention without trial, to eat as cruel and called on Israel to either charge or release her"Shalabi, 30, from the village of Burqin in the northern West Bank, Israel claims has been on hunger strike since her violent arrest on February 16, with her condition deteriorating rapidly. She is being held under administrative detention laws, which allows Israel to hold prisoners indefinitely without trial. A doctor from Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHR) who saw her on Monday reported that she was at risk of death because she could suffer from heart failure at any moment, and called for her immediate hospitalization. According to PHR, she has lost 14kgs since her arrest, and suffers from impaired thyroid functions and severe pain, weakness, and dizziness. She was transferred to Meir Hospital in the central Israeli town of Kfar Saba on Tuesday night, but remains under Israeli custody and constant armed guard.

“When her lawyers and independent physicians have been given access to her, Hana Shalabi has reported that Israel Prison Service officers have handled her violently while transferring her to hospital or the military court, and consistently pressured her to end her hunger strike,” said Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. Shalabi's protest comes after the success of the 66-day hunger strike of Khader Adnan, who ended his strike after international pressure forced Israel to make a deal which will see him released next month. Adnan and Shalabi's strikes have raised international awareness and condemnation of the Israeli illegal practice of administrative detention