Three activists from the group Palestine Action are in critical condition, approaching death after a prolonged hunger strike in a UK prison. The individuals are awaiting trial for allegedly causing over £1 million in damage to a research centre owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.
A Desperate Act of Protest
Among the three is Kamran Ahmed, aged 28, who was arrested in a dawn raid on 19 November 2024. He has now refused food for 59 days while held at HMP Pentonville. Ahmed is one of 24 prisoners facing trial for the alleged attack on the Gloucestershire facility. In a message conveyed via an intermediary to The Guardian's legal correspondent Haroon Siddique, Ahmed expressed grim determination.
"I'm worried, but being scared does not mean for one second I am not willing," Ahmed stated. "I intend to continue my hunger strike. Perhaps they wait for me to leave in a body bag. The way my chest hurts when I speak, it doesn't feel too far in the near future."
Families Live in Fear
The families of the hunger strikers are terrified, watching as their loved ones' health deteriorates rapidly. Ahmed's sister, Shamina, spoke to Nosheen Iqbal about the unbearable anxiety, drawing parallels to historical protests.
"People keep bringing up the Irish hunger strike and comparing the days before deaths took place," she said. "When you're seeing those comparisons, yeah, it's deeply scary to think about a thought where your younger brother may not be here, you might outlive him."
Government Response and Motivations
The government's stance on the situation remains a focal point of concern. Siddique's reporting delves into the official response and explores the motivations that drove Ahmed and seven others to initiate this extreme form of protest. The activists' primary target, Elbit Systems, is a major supplier of military technology to Israel, making it a focal point for pro-Palestinian protest groups in the UK.
With three activists still refusing sustenance and their physical states declining, urgent questions are being raised about whether authorities will intervene to prevent fatalities. The situation presents a significant challenge for the UK's justice and prison systems, balancing legal proceedings with the duty of care owed to those in custody.
