Four Palestine Action hunger strikers pledge to continue, families say
Four protesters jailed for alleged crimes related to the Palestine Action Group have vowed to continue their hunger strike, their families said.
Eight activists initially went on hunger strike while awaiting trial for alleged break-in or criminal damage; Four of them are still protesting.
Four of the group are accused of playing a role in the theft of Israeli-linked defense technology company Elbit Systems UK and will 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 caused millions of pounds worth of damage by spraying two RAF Voyager aircraft with red paint.
Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib suspended their hunger strike this week due to health problems. Lawyers for the eight people said they could die if the protest continues.
According to the support group Prisoners of Palestine, those still refusing to eat are Teuta Hoxha, Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello.
According to a follower announced by the group, Muraisi has been living without food for more than 50 days. Ahmed and Hodja have also been on hunger strike for more than 45 days. Chiaramello fasts intermittently due to an underlying health condition.
Ahmed’s sister, Shahmina Alam, told Sky News that her brother’s “spirit is strong” despite the increasing danger of going without food. He said: “The prison moved him to cells closer to the nurse’s station so they could manage his vital organs and respond to any emergencies.
“Kamran is still determined. He thinks this is the only way to meet his demands.”
Hoxta’s sister, Rahma, said she lost a “tremendous amount of weight.” He said Hoxta had difficulty speaking, had constant headaches and heart palpitations.
Protesters called for the lifting of the terrorism ban on the Palestine Movement group and threatened to take legal action against the government.
A law firm representing hunger strikers said it had submitted a pre-action letter against justice secretary David Lammy on Monday. The letter called for a response within 24 hours and stated that the issue was “an urgent matter” and that “the health of our customers continues to deteriorate and the risk of death increases day by day.”
It also calls for an urgent meeting with Mr Lammy. Support group Palestinian prisoners told Independent He said there has been no response from the government so far.
Ahmed, 28, held at Pentonville Prison in London, and Gib, 30, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, were taken to hospital last week after refusing to eat.
Last Thursday, emergency room physician Dr. James Smith told reporters that some activists were “dying” and needed specialist medical attention.
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 that encourage more people to put themselves at risk. hunger strike”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously said “rules and procedures” were followed after facing questions in the House of Commons about why his ministers refused to meet representatives of the strikers.
Prisons minister Lord Timpson has previously said the force is “very experienced” in dealing with hunger strikes, has “robust and working” systems and that the Prisons Service “will not interview” any prisoners or their representatives.
