Date Type 24/07/2015 JUA Case No Country Mandate(s) ISR 3/2015 Israel Health; OPT; Torture; Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply 14/08/2015 Allegations concerning a proposed amendment to the Prisons Act which, if adopted, would violate the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment by allowing for force-feeding of detainees on hunger strike in Israeli detention. According to the information received, a draft amendment to the Prisons Act approved at its first reading in June 2014 is now awaiting its second and third reading at the Israeli Knesset after the continuation of the draft amendment’s legislative process from the last Knesset was approved. The proposed amendment, if adopted, would permit a district court to allow for the force-feeding and medical treatment of prisoners on hunger strike against their will and encourage medical teams to force-feed prisoners on hunger strike while freeing them of any liability for such acts. It is reported that particularly Palestinian detainees held by Israel, including those under administrative detention, who decide to use hunger strike as a form of protest, will be affected. It is further reported that not a single prisoner or detainee on hunger strike in Israeli detention has died as a result of the hunger strike itself, but that five have died due to force feeding. The bill on force-feeding was the subject of a previous communication sent on 20 June 2014, see A/HRC/28/85, case no. ISR 5/2014. A/HRC/31/79 55