Two prisoners affiliated with Palestine Action who are on hunger strike have been taken to hospital, prompting MPs and next of kin to demand immediate government intervention over concerns about prison conditions and medical care.
Amu Gib, 30, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, is on day 50 of their hunger strike, while Kamran Ahmed, 28, at Pentonville prison in London, is on day 42. They are among eight prisoners hospitalised since the strike began on 2 November, according to Prisoners for Palestine. Gib was provided with a wheelchair on Friday and taken to hospital on Saturday.
The prisoner-led collective warned that hunger strikers will die without urgent government action, stating: “They are in the custody of the state and any harm that comes to them is a deliberate outcome of the government’s negligence.” MPs have written to the government expressing concerns over delays in medical assistance and limited family communication. Lawyers have criticised Justice Secretary David Lammy for refusing to meet them.
Jessica Dolliver, Gib’s next of kin, said she was not surprised by the hospitalisation, noting Gib’s deterioration. Gib recently wrote in the Guardian of their solidarity with Palestinians. It is understood Gib is on remand for allegedly being involved in a break-in at Brize Norton airbase in June.
A HMP Bronzefield spokesperson said: “We cannot provide information about specific individuals. However, we can confirm that all prisoners have full access to healthcare, including attendance at external medical facilities if needed. Any prisoner refusing food receives regular medical assessment and support from clinicians, as well as being offered mental health support.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Gib’s MP, wrote to the prisons inspectorate on Sunday, joined by MPs John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner, raising concerns about “inconsistent and unreliable” health treatment for hunger strikers. Last week, Corbyn and over 50 MPs urged Lammy to meet the prisoners’ lawyers. The prisons minister, Lord Timpson, has stated the service is “very experienced” in dealing with hunger strikes and will not meet prisoners or their representatives.
