A hunger strike by six individuals awaiting trial in British prisons has entered what supporters are calling a "point of no return", with the protest now in its second month and raising serious health concerns.
Health Deteriorates as Strike Enters Critical Phase
The six prisoners, affiliated with the group Palestine Action, have now refused food for 46 days. This makes it the longest hunger strike in a UK prison for decades, drawing inevitable comparisons to the 1981 Irish Republican Army protests in which ten men died.
The strikers—Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Heba Muraisa, Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello—are all on remand, meaning they have not been convicted of any offences. They face charges related to direct action protests, including alleged damage to sites linked to Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.
Concerns for their wellbeing are mounting. According to reports, Qesser Zuhrah, held at HMP Bronzefield, alerted prison staff to severe chest pains, abdominal pain, and breathlessness on December 16, reportedly stating, "Can you ring an ambulance? I’m scared."
Justice Delays and Escalating Demands
The case has highlighted significant delays in the justice system. One of the strikers, Amu Gib, arrested in July 2025, is not expected to stand trial until January 2027—nearly two years after his initial arrest.
Lawyers for the group have written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, warning of the "real and increasingly likely potential that young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence."
The hunger strikers, part of groups referred to as the Filton 24 and Brize Norton 4, have issued five core demands:
- An end to prison censorship of letters and calls.
- Immediate bail for all Palestine Action prisoners.
- Guarantees of fair trials.
- The scrapping of a 'terror' classification for Palestine Action.
- The shutdown of all Elbit Systems sites in the UK.
The group Prisoners4Palestine states that Elbit is "Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer" and demands the government stops using "taxpayer's money to fund the machinery of genocide."
Ministry of Justice Condemns Protest Tactics
While the health crisis deepens, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has taken a firm stance, focusing on the operational impact of the protest. A spokesperson condemned the escalation at HMP Bronzefield as "completely unacceptable."
"While we support the right to protest, it is deeply concerning that a member of staff has now been injured and protestors are gaining access to staff entrances – putting hard-working staff and security at risk," the spokesperson said.
The MoJ maintains that prisoner welfare is continually assessed, with hospital treatment provided where necessary, and that all cases of food refusal are being managed in line with official policy.
As the strike passes the 46-day mark, the situation presents a stark challenge for the government, balancing prison security and staff safety against the grave medical and ethical implications of a prolonged hunger strike by unconvicted individuals.
