Palestinians call for action against Israel’s threat to force feed prisoners

– The Palestinian foreign ministry Sunday called for an international “awakening of conscience” toward the plight of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, who are on an open-ended hunger strike for the 21st day in a row, and stand in support of their legitimate demands.

The ministry sent to Palestinian embassies abroad copies of an International Committee of the Red Cross statement urging Israel, as the occupation authority, to live up to its obligations under international law regarding communication between the prisoners and their relatives.

In a statement, the ministry warned against the danger of force-feeding the hunger-striking prisoners, calling the measure a “blatant violation” of international law and human rights principles.

The ministry called on Arab embassies, in cooperation with their countries and parliaments, to step up diplomatic and political action at international forums to lay bare Israel’s ongoing breaches against the prisoners and accede to their demands.

The estimated 1,600 inmates on hunger strike are protesting solitary confinement, detention without trial, denial of visits by relatives among other demands.