The health of three prisoners affiliated with Palestine Action who are on hunger strike has deteriorated significantly, with one entering her third month without food, supporters have reported. Heba Muraisi, 31, on day 65 of her strike, is experiencing muscle spasms and breathing difficulties, while Kamran Ahmed, 28, on day 58, has suffered intermittent hearing loss. Lewie Chiaramello, 22, who has type 1 diabetes, has been fasting every other day for 44 days.
Dr James Smith, an emergency physician at University College London, warned that the three are “well into the critical phase”, beyond three weeks, and that “things can decline very quickly and irreversibly”. Ahmed, held at Pentonville prison and hospitalised for a fifth time last week, said through an intermediary: “I’m worried but being scared does not mean for one second I am not willing as the government ministers play ping pong with our health. I intend to continue my hunger strike; perhaps they wait for me to leave in a body bag or [be] hospitalised for a sixth time.”
The rolling hunger strike began on 2 November, demanding immediate bail, an end to the ban on Palestine Action, closure of UK sites of Israeli arms company Elbit Systems, and an end to censorship of prisoners’ communications. The three have spent over 18 months in jail before trial, exceeding the standard six-month pre-trial custody limit. Five other prisoners have paused their hunger strike, with Teuta Hoxha stopping after 60 days on Saturday.
Ahmed said: “I don’t think any of the hunger strikers wish to die, but it’s funny, if I potentially pass away, does it only matter because I have a [UK] passport? Are the Palestinians disposable numbers?” He cited watching “random cooking shows”, his Islamic faith, and “hearing the protests echo through the Pentonville grounds” as sustaining him. Dr Smith dismissed scepticism about the strikers’ survival, noting medical advancements in supplementation, but warned of risks including heart problems, infections, and neurological issues.
Prisoners Minister James Timpson stated: “Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation. These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage. Remand decisions are for independent judges, and lawyers can make representations to the court on behalf of their clients. Ministers will not meet with them – we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers.” The Ministry of Justice argued that meeting the prisoners’ request would create “perverse incentives” for others to put themselves at risk.
