The UK government is facing mounting pressure as a group of remand prisoners affiliated with the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action continue a dangerous hunger strike, with medical professionals warning their lives are now at risk. The situation is drawing stark comparisons to the 1981 IRA hunger strikes in Northern Ireland.
A Growing Health Crisis Behind Bars
As of last week, the protest had reached a critical phase. Two prisoners had refused food for 48 days, surpassing the point at which an IRA hunger striker died in 1981. One of the protesters, 20-year-old Qesser Zuhrah, was reportedly hospitalised after collapsing at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. Another, 30-year-old Amu Gib, has also received hospital treatment.
Three more individuals have refused sustenance for over 40 days, while another, who has diabetes, is eating only every other day. Two protesters have now ended their strike, one following hospitalisation. All are on remand, accused of offences including criminal damage, aggravated burglary, and violent disorder related to actions at a factory owned by Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems in Filton, near Bristol, and an alleged break-in at RAF Brize Norton.
Lengthy Remand and Legal Challenges
A central issue fuelling the protest is the extended time the defendants have spent in custody awaiting trial. All will have been imprisoned for over a year before their cases are heard, far exceeding the standard custody time limit of six months. Some trials may not commence until 2027.
The prisoners' demands include immediate bail, the removal of restrictions on their communications, and an end to the ban on Palestine Action. The government proscribed the group in July, leading to more than 1,600 related arrests in the following three months. Huda Ammori, the group's co-founder, has mounted a legal challenge against the proscription.
Government Inaction and Political Criticism
Ministers have stated that prisons manage around 200 hunger strikes annually and are "very experienced" in handling them. They are understandably cautious about setting a precedent. However, this stance is attracting significant criticism for appearing complacent in the face of a rapidly escalating health crisis.
Last week, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle labelled as "totally unacceptable" the failure of Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy to respond to MPs' requests for information. When questioned at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer's response was described as perfunctory.
Legal experts and independent reviewers of terrorism legislation have suggested that lengthy remand is rarely justifiable and that defendants could be electronically tagged while awaiting trial. They have also argued that proscription orders should be subject to time limits. Critics highlight a stark contrast between the government's "draconian zeal" in proscribing Palestine Action and its perceived indifference to the large-scale loss of life in Gaza.
The government is now being urged to engage substantively with the issues of bail and prison communication restrictions before the protesters' health declines further, forcing a tragic and avoidable outcome.
