Israel punishes Palestinian hunger strikers by removing rights

Israeli authorities are trying new methods to end hunger strikes among Palestinian prisoners. The measures include canceling prisoners' rights to family visits and confiscating of their possessions.

"Privileges such as family visits have been revoked and items such as electronics have been confiscated," Sivan Weizman, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prisons Authority said Monday as quoted by Reuters.

Amani Sarahna of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group for Palestinians jailed in Israel, says prison authorities conducted extensive searches of the hunger strikers' jail cells. "All the prisoners' belongings were confiscated except their towels and their shoes," Saranha explained. She says even salt was taken away from the prisoners – the only calorie-free nutrient they ingest.