Two prisoners affiliated with the pro-Palestine activist group have been forced to temporarily suspend a prolonged hunger strike after their health severely deteriorated, but have pledged to restart their protest in the New Year.
Health Deterioration Forces Temporary Halt
According to a statement from the support group Prisoners for Palestine, Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Amu Gib, 30, have begun eating again after refusing food for 48 and 49 days respectively. The pair are being held on remand at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.
They were among eight individuals facing charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action. The group was banned under terrorism legislation in July, a move the defendants contest. They deny all charges and demand they be dropped.
Allegations of Mistreatment and Ongoing Strikes
The pause follows serious allegations regarding Zuhrah's treatment in prison. Supporters claim she was refused an ambulance for over 18 hours, sparking a protest outside HMP Bronzefield last week attended by Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana. The Ministry of Justice has previously disputed all claims of mistreatment.
Despite this temporary halt, the protest continues. Four other detainees – Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha, and Lewie Chiaramello – remain on hunger strike. Muraisi, held at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, has demanded a transfer back to HMP Bronzefield where she was initially detained.
Defiant Statements and Government Response
In a defiant statement, Qesser Zuhrah addressed the government: “Do not release your breath, because we will certainly return to battle you with our empty stomachs in the New Year... Our demands however remain inescapable, and this pause is your chance to meet them... to stop arming and aiding this genocide.”
Amu Gib echoed this resolve, stating: “We have never trusted the government with our lives, and we will not start now... We are committed to the resistance of their script, not until Christmas, but for the rest of our lives.”
The remaining strikers have issued new demands, including an end to non-association orders isolating them from each other, and access to the same courses and activities as sentenced prisoners, given their extended time on remand.
Responding to the situation, Lord Timpson, the minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, stated that while concerning, hunger strikes are not new in prisons. He emphasised that healthcare is provided by the NHS and that hospital care is not refused. He firmly stated that ministers will not meet with the prisoners, citing the constitutional separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.
Earlier this month, two other strikers, Jon Cink and Umer Khalid, ended their 41-day and 13-day protests for health reasons after being admitted to hospital.
