The head of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee Issa Qaraqe stated, Saturday, that the committee will file legal charges against any physician or health professional, regardless of their nationality, who participates in force-feeding the hunger striking Palestinian detainees.
Qaraqe stated that force-feeding the detainees is a crime which jeopardizes the detainees’ lives. He added that any doctor who participates in this outrageous crime will not only be violating his oath and medical ethics, but also international laws.
“The Declaration of Malta on Hunger Strikers, of 1991, clearly defined the methods of dealing with hunger strikers, and states that force-feeding is immoral and unethical, even when it is intended to help,” Qaraqe’ said, “It also outlaws using threats, force and punishment methods against the detainees to force them end their strike.”
The Palestinian official also said that the hunger-striking detainees are facing serious deterioration in their health conditions, and called on the International Community to intervene, and help them achieve their internationally-guaranteed rights and legitimate demands.
He called on countries around the world to refrain from sending doctors to participate in force-feeding the Palestinian detainees, and to uphold their own signed international agreements and treaties, especially those related to human rights, and the rights of prisoners to refuse food and even medication.
The statements of Qaraqe came during an action in solidarity with the detainees, in Yatta and the al-Fawwar refugee camp, in the southern West Bank governorate of Hebron.
His statements were made in response to statements made by Israeli officials regarding their intention to bring foreign doctors to force-feed the detainees.
