Three Palestine Action activists end hunger strikes after 73 days
Three Palestine Action activists ended their hunger strike in prison after 73 days, claiming that the government had met one of their core demands.
Campaign group Prisoners of Palestine said Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi and Lewie Chiaramello began “re-feeding” on Wednesday. The group said the Government had rejected a £2bn contract to Israel-based defense firm Elbit Systems, saying it was “an important demand from hunger strikers”.
Hunger strike participants are in prison awaiting trial for alleged trespass or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Movement before the group was banned under terrorism legislation; They denied these charges and demanded that they be dropped.
Palestinian Prisoners said national leaders in charge of prison health services met with representatives of prisoners on hunger strike on Friday to discuss prison conditions and treatment recommendations.
According to the Prisoners of Palestine website, the last remaining person on hunger strike is Umer Khalid.
Palestinian prisoners said in their statement: “While these prisoners are ending their hunger strike, the resistance is just beginning.
“Banning a group and imprisoning our comrades backfired on the British state, direct action is alive and the public will drive Elbit out of Britain forever.”
Chiaramello said it was a “time for celebration” as their demands had been met.
“It is definitely a time to celebrate. It is a time to rejoice, it is a time to embrace our joy of revolution and liberation,” they said. “We do this because of Palestine, because we are inspired, because we have the power to take action and try to realize our dreams for a free Palestine and a free world.”
They said that in addition to the three who ended their strike on Wednesday, Teuta Hoxha, Jon Cink, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib “have now started to eat again in accordance with health rules.”
Many prisoners have been hospitalized since the hunger strike began on November 2.
The Press Association applied to the Ministry of Justice for comment.
