( CNN ) -- The U.S. government on Wednesday refused to stop force-feeding prisoners at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , during Ramadan . In court papers rejecting a petition by detainees , the United States said the feedings provide `` essential nutrition and medical care '' and do not interfere with the detainees ' religious fasting during Ramadan , the holy month that begins on the evening of July 8 . The tube-feedings will take place in the early morning and late evening to help detainees comply with Ramadan restrictions , said Navy Capt . Robert Durand , spokesman for the detention facility . Shaker Aamer , Ahmed Belbacha , Nabil Hadjarab and Abu Wa'el Dhiab filed a lawsuit Sunday arguing that the feedings violate the Ramadan daily fast from dawn to sunset . U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler had set a deadline of noon Wednesday for the government to respond . Lt. Col Todd Breasseale , a Pentagon spokesman , said the military has changed force-feeding times at Guantanamo during Ramadan for years , but doing so `` is an accommodation , not a right . '' Of the 166 prisoners at Guantanamo , 106 are on hunger strike , Breasseale said . In its court filing , the U.S. Justice Department also denied claims that it was giving the drug Reglan to the detainees . Gitmo hunger strikers : 'What more can they do to me ? ' Daily life at Gitmo : Hunger strikes , sprays of filth . CNN 's Josh Levs contributed to this report .
The military says prisoners will be force-fed in late evening and the early morning . The Reglan says the feedings provide essential nutrition and medical care . 106 prisoners say the feedings violate the Ramadan fast . The U.S. also denies giving detainees U.S. .