Who are the Palestine Action hunger strikers and what are the health risks? | UK news

Who are the activists on hunger strike?

Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Amu Gib, 30, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, became the first two prisoners to go on hunger strike on 2 November. They were joined by 31-year-old Heba Muraisi, who was at HMP New Hall the next day. The group also includes 29-year-old Teuta Hoxha, 28-year-old Kamran Ahmed and 22-year-old Lewie Chiaramello, who refuses to eat every other day because he is diabetic.

Prisoners for Palestine said Jon Cink and Umer Khalid ended their 41-day and 13-day hunger strikes in early December for health reasons. The couple was taken to the hospital and later sent back to prison.

Cink, Khalid, Chiaramello and Gib are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, where two military jets were allegedly damaged. They will not be tried until 2027.

Zuhrah, Muraisi, Hoxha and Ahmed are accused of playing a role in the 2024 intrusion into the systems of Israeli-linked defense firm Elbit. These people are expected to be tried in May next year at the earliest.

They deny the accusations.

What are their demands?

These include immediate bail, ending the ban on Palestine Action, and ending communication restrictions. Activists also called for Elbit to be shut down.

Lawyers representing the group criticized the deputy prime minister and justice minister, David Lammy, for refusing to meet with them and claimed he had failed to comply with the Ministry of Justice’s own policy on dealing with hunger strikes.

How did the government respond?

Keir Starmer previously told the House of Commons that “rules and procedures” were being followed after facing questions about why his ministers refused to meet representatives of those striking.

Prisons minister James Timpson said the force was “very experienced” in dealing with hunger strikes and had “robust and working” systems. He added that the Prison Service “will not be interviewing” any prisoners or their representatives.

House of Commons leader Alan Campbell said the government was “not trying to break the bodies” of protesters.

How are they treated in the prison organization?

The Prison Service cannot force-feed a prisoner who refuses to take food or liquids.

However, representatives of some hunger strikers claimed that in some cases medical observation or treatment was not provided or was provided late. It was claimed that an ambulance was called for Zühre only after she requested to be hospitalized one night. It was also claimed that his vital signs were only taken intermittently and that he had been receiving insufficient electrolytes since returning from hospital at HMP Bronzefield due to depletion of electrolytes.

In response to the allegations, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson previously said: “Prisoners’ health conditions are assessed on an ongoing basis and appropriate measures are taken, including hospital treatment where necessary. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has reassured ministers that all cases involving prisoners refusing to eat are managed with appropriate medical assessment and support, in accordance with relevant policy and consistent with prisoners’ rights.”

An HMP Bronzefield spokesman added: “Any prisoner who refuses to eat receives regular medical assessment and support from clinicians, with mental health support also offered.”

How serious are the health risks?

7 prisoners who started hunger strike were hospitalized. Five were accepted more than once.

Dr Emerald, an emergency physician and lecturer at University College London, who has been in contact with some of the activists and their families. Some hunger strikers are slowly dying, James Smith said at a press conference on Thursday.

“After about three weeks, the body has exhausted its fat stores and begins breaking down muscle and organ tissue to produce enough energy to maintain basic body functions,” he said. “From now on, the risk of sudden, serious and unpredictable physical dysfunction increases day by day.”