A Palestinian activist on hunger strike in a British prison has entered a critical phase, with her mother releasing a desperate letter as her daughter's health rapidly deteriorates. Heba Muraisi, held on remand, has now refused food for 64 days, marking the longest protest of its kind in the UK since the 1981 IRA hunger strikes.
Critical Health Decline and a Mother's Plea
Heba Muraisi is now experiencing symptoms indicating potential neurological damage, including uncontrollable muscle spasms and significant breathing difficulties. Speaking to the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine, she revealed she sometimes feels she is "holding her breath" and has to consciously "remind herself to breathe". This follows reports on January 2 that she had lost the ability to speak.
Her mother, Dunya, who has been unable to visit her, wrote a poignant letter of support. "We are here behind you, supporting you and loving you without limits," she wrote. "No matter how long the night of waiting lasts, the sun of freedom will surely rise."
The Demands Behind the Protest
Muraisi, arrested in November 2024, is part of a group known as the Filton 24 and Brize Norton 4, accused of involvement in a break-in at the Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems. A trial is tentatively scheduled for May 2026. She has been held on remand for over a year, exceeding standard UK custody limits for those awaiting trial.
She has vowed to continue her open-ended hunger strike until two key demands are met: immediate bail and a transfer back to HMP Bronzefield, closer to her family. She was moved to HMP New Hall in Wakefield late last year, placing her hundreds of miles from her support network. None of her demands have been met by prison authorities.
Longest UK Hunger Strike in Decades
The protest, which began on 3 November 2025, has now surpassed 60 days, a dangerous threshold. It is the longest seen in the UK since the 1981 IRA hunger strikes, during which ten men, including Bobby Sands, died. Of the six prisoners who began this strike in November, three have now paused their protests after varying durations.
One striker, Teuta Hoxha, paused on January 3 after some concessions, including the release of delayed mail. However, concerns remain as the prison has reportedly refused to send her to hospital for supervised refeeding, risking refeeding syndrome.
The group's legal team, Imran Khan and Partners, has warned Foreign Secretary David Lammy that "young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence." The wider demands of the strikers include fair trials and the closure of Elbit Systems' UK sites.
When questioned by the Independent, Prisons Minister James Timpson stated: "We are very experienced at dealing with hunger strikes... the processes that we have are well-established and they work very well." The Mirror approached David Lammy, Wes Streeting, and Keir Starmer for comment but received no reply prior to publication.
Meanwhile, demonstrations continue outside HMP New Hall, with protesters holding banners that read "Support the Hunger Strikers," as Heba Muraisi's physical condition becomes increasingly perilous.
