RAMALLAH, January 17, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli forces on Sunday suppressed a non-violent protest held near Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with hunger striking prisoner in Israeli jails Mohammad al-Qiq.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli soldiers attacked with teargas a rally, which set out in solidarity with al-Qiq, who is the first Palestinian hunger striker to be force-fed by Israeli authorities since the enactment of the force-feeding law by the Israeli Knesset in July 2015.

Earlier this day, Jawad Boules, director of the legal unit in the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS), said that the health status of al-Qiq has reached very critical stages. He said al-Qiq fainted on Friday and has since been placed under intensified care.

Al-Qiq launched his hunger strike more than two month ago in protest of being held in jail without a charge or trial.

In July 2015, Israel‘s parliament enacted the force-feeding law of prisoners on hunger strike, a move that was met by vehement opposition from the country‘s medical association.

Adalah and Al Mezan human rights centers commented in this regard as saying that, "With this new law, Israel sanctions torture and ill-treatment." According to al-Mezan, “Forced-feeding resulted in the death of 3 prisoners on hunger strike in past decades.”

Adalah also commented on the law stating that, "Israel passed legislations that sanctions the torture of hunger strikers. The law enables the state to break a prisoner’s will by violating his/her human rights, including the right of autonomy over one’s body, in order to deprive prisoners of the only means of peaceful protest they have left at their disposal.”

“If Israel wants to end hunger-strikes, it should address the grievances prompting the strikes, end its practice of administrative detention without charge or trial, and provide humane conditions for Palestinian prisoners, instead of using criminal methods that violate medical ethics and international law."

M.N/M.H