The current hunger strike, the longest in decades, has reached a critical phase with potential life-threatening consequences. Despite the urgency of the situation, governmental authorities have chosen to remain silent.
Six individuals in British prisons are now on hunger strike, having abstained from food for 46 days. This surpasses the previous record set during the 1981 Irish Republican Army hunger strikes at HMP Maze / Long Kesh in Northern Ireland.
The ongoing hunger strike initiated by Palestine Action on November 2 has now extended into its second month. Among the hunger strikers are Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib on day 46, Heba Muraisa on day 45, Teuta Hoxha on day 39, Kamran Ahmed on day 38, and Lewie Chiaramello on day 24.
These individuals are refraining from eating as they await trial for their involvement in direct action protests supporting Palestine. Some other participants in the hunger strike have since withdrawn from the protest.
The hunger strikers have put forth five demands, including ending prison censorship, immediate bail for Palestine Action prisoners, fair trials for all accused individuals, abolishing the ‘terror’ classification of Palestine Action, and shutting down all Elbit Systems sites in the UK.
Supporters, including Zarah Sultana MP and two doctors, have gathered outside HMP Bronzefield, advocating for the urgent hospitalization and independent medical evaluation of Qesser Zuhrah, who is currently on day 46 of her hunger strike.
The legal representatives of the hunger strikers have warned of the escalating risk of fatalities among these individuals who have not yet faced any convictions. The call for action to prevent potential deaths in UK prisons is growing louder, with prominent figures from various industries urging intervention before it’s too late.
