Palestine Action hunger strikers begin legal action against Government after activists are hospitalised
Palestine Action hunger strikers have taken legal action against the government, with a law firm representing the activists sending a pre-action letter to Justice Minister David Lammy.
The move comes after several detainees were hospitalized due to rapidly deteriorating health, including one who refused to eat for 51 days.
The letter, sent on Monday, outlines the group’s intention to take legal action, citing the government’s alleged abandonment of its own prison security policy framework.
The strikers claim they have sent numerous letters to Mr Lammy, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, but have received no response.
It was emphasized that the urgent communication seen by the Press Association must be responded to within 24 hours, and that the issue was an “urgent matter” as “the health of our customers continues to deteriorate and the risk of death increases day by day”.
It also requests an “immediate meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration in our clients’ health and attempts to resolve the situation.”
Seven detainees have been hospitalized since the hunger strike began on November 2.
They include Amu Gib, 30, who is being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, from Pentonville Prison in London.
Gib, who is on the 51st day of the strike, was taken to hospital on Saturday and reportedly needed a wheelchair as his condition was rapidly deteriorating. Ahmed is currently on the 43rd day of his strike.
Last Thursday, emergency room physician Dr. James Smith had warned journalists that some activists were “dying” and needed specialist medical attention.
The prisoners face charges related to alleged trespass or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Movement, before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.
Gib is accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton and spray painting two RAF Voyager aircraft. Ahmed is accused of causing £1 million of damage with sledgehammers to the UK facility of an Israel-based defense firm near Patchway, Bristol, in August 2024.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We strongly deny these allegations. We want these prisoners to accept support and recover, and we will not create perverse incentives to encourage more people to put themselves at risk by going on hunger strike.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously confirmed “rules and procedures” were being followed, while Prisons minister Lord Timpson claimed the force was “very experienced” in dealing with hunger strikes and had “robust and working” systems.
Lord Timpson added that the Prison Service “will not interview” any prisoners or their representatives.
