Palestine Action protesters pause hunger strike over deteriorating health
Two protesters, who were in prison due to criminal allegations related to the Palestine Action Group, stopped their hunger strike due to their deteriorating health condition.
According to a statement from Prisoners of Palestine, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib decided to start eating again after refusing to eat for 48 days.
They are among eight prisoners who went on hunger strike while awaiting trial over allegations of break-in or criminal damage. According to the group representing the prisoners, four out of eight activists still refuse to eat; One of them, Heba Muraisi, is currently on the 52nd day of her hunger strike.
In its update on Tuesday evening, Palestinian Prisoners said Qesser Zuhrah decided to stop his strike after experiencing “constant excruciating pain in his abdomen”, while Amu Gib “experienced severe weakness and brain fog”. Both are being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.
Zuhrah, 20, is charged with aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage for allegedly breaking into Israel-linked Elbit Systems UK in Bristol Filton.
He vowed to resume his hunger strike in the new year if the government did not respond to the protest.
Gib, 30, is charged with conspiracy to damage property and enter a restricted place in relation to the alleged break-in at RAF Brize Norton.
Four of the eight-man group are accused of playing a role in the break-in at Elbit Systems and are due to stand trial in May next year at the earliest. The other four are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, where they are alleged to have damaged two military aircraft.
The alleged crimes occurred before the group was banned under terrorism legislation in July.
Lawyers for eight prisoners called for an urgent meeting with ministers and claimed there was a “real and growing possibility” their clients would die in prison.
The eight activists made a number of demands, including a call to unban pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action. The Palestine Movement was banned as a terrorist organization by the then home secretary Yvette Cooper in July this year, and supporting the organization was made a crime under terrorism legislation.
Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, challenged the group’s ban in the Supreme Court, arguing that the movement was “new and unprecedented.”
The ban has since led to thousands of people being arrested under terrorism laws for holding banners saying they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action.
In the months before the group was banned, between April and July 2025, 63 people were arrested for terrorism-related activities. Following the ban on Palestine Action, this rate increased by 2,608 percent, with 1,706 arrests recorded from July to September.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested on Tuesday during a protest in support of prisoners on hunger strike, the group Prisoners of Palestine said. One video shows Ms Thunberg holding a banner reading “I support Palestine Action protesters. I oppose genocide” at a demonstration in central London.
