Six Palestine Action activists who have been on hunger strike in prison for over a month are “dying”, a doctor has warned.
Families of the prisoners held a press conference this week to give updates on the condition of the hunger strikers, and urge the Government to meet with their representatives.
Speakers included independent MP Jeremy Corbyn and Dr James Smith, an emergency physician and lecturer in humanitarian policy at UCL.
Two of the prisoners have now been on strike for 50 days.
Qesser Zuhrah, 20, was last week taken to hospital by ambulance after protests outside HMP Bronzefield calling for urgent medical attention.
Dr Smith told the conference on Thursday: “On this trajectory, put simply, the hunger strikers are dying.”
Who are the activists?
The group of hunger strikers are all on remand in prison awaiting trial on a range of offences in relation to their activism for Palestine Action.
Qesser Zuhrah (striking for 50 days), Heba Muraisi (49 days), Teuta Hoxha (43 days) and Kamran Ahmed (42 days) were arrested for their alleged involvement in the vandalism of a weapons manufacturing centre in August 2024.
Police have arrested 24 people in connection with the protest action, in which six activists drove a prison van into Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons company, in Filton, Bristol.
They reportedly caused £1m worth of damage.
The strikers are on remand for their alleged involvement in Palestine Action vandalismAmu Gibb (50 days) and Lewie Chiaramello (28 days, off and on due to diabetes) were both arrested for their alleged involvement in the Palestine Action vandalism at RAF Brize Norton in June.
The group reportedly caused £7m worth of damage to planes after they entered the base.
Why are they on hunger strike?
Prisoners for Palestine, which represents the interests of the group, has said that the hunger strikers are demanding a meeting with Home Secretary David Lammy.
Their strikes began in protest against their continued imprisonment on remand after they were all denied bail. The four being held over charges related to the Filton vandalism, and have all been in prison since November 2024.
The activists are awaiting trial. Two have had their trials postponed to early 2027, having been imprisoned since July.
The longest striking activists, Qesser and Amu, have both abstained from food for 50 days, with others joining the movement since.
Two more prisoners who were previously involved in the action have stopped their strikes for health reasons.
At the press conference, Corbyn said: “They’ve already been an inordinate length of time remanded in custody, and if the justice department gets its way, that will just go on and on.”
He urged Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “uphold the prison regulations and make contact with the representatives of the hunger strikers in order to save life”.
The hunger strikers want to meet with David Lammy to appeal against their conditionsWhat are their conditions?
Dr James Smith, who is in “direct contact” with some of the activists, said there is an “imminent risk to the health, and the risk of death for all of the hunger strikers at this stage”.
“From a medical perspective, after approximately three weeks, the body has exhausted fat stores and begins to break down muscle and organ tissue in order to produce enough energy simply to maintain normal bodily function,” Dr Smith explained.
Kamran Ahmed, who has not eaten in 42 days, told The Times: “Every day I’m scared that potentially I might die.”
“Yes, I’m scared of passing away. Yes, this may have life-long implications. But I look at the risk versus reward. I see it as worthwhile,” he added.
More than 200 doctors wrote to the British Medical Association expressing concern for their welfare and urging that they receive adequate care.
Dr Smith concluded: “The hunger strikers are at imminent risk of irreversible damage to their bodies, and of death.”
The condition of the hunger strikers is critical, says Dr James SmithHow has the Government responded?
Corbyn asked the Prime Minister about “regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules” in the treatment of the hunger strikers in prison at PMQs on Wednesday.
Starmer responded: “He will appreciate there are rules and procedures in place in relation to hunger strikes, and we’re following those rules and procedures.”
Lord Timpson, prisons minister, said: “We are very experienced at dealing with hunger strikes.
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“Unfortunately, over the last five years, we have averaged over 200 hunger strike incidents every year and the processes that we have are well-established and they work very well – with prisons working alongside our NHS partners every day, making sure our systems are robust and working – and they are.
“I am very clear: I don’t treat any prisoners differently to others. That is why we will not be meeting any prisoners or their representatives.
“We have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system.”
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