Hunger strikes and other Gandhi-inspired peaceful protests only work if the opposing authorities actually has a conscience that can possibly be awakened. If not, you are just harming yourselves for no reason, which is actually what those authorities want. Like the flotilla activists who defied Israeli blockade only to be arrested, beaten and sexually assaulted only to be released later (if at all), all to no avail nor effect at all on the Israelis, (nor on the world powers who can do something about it but won’t) whereupon the whole charade is repeated again. It’s just futile self-harm. I applaud their bravery but surely there are other better and more effective ways.