In a concerning development, the ongoing hunger strike, now the longest in decades, has reached a critical phase where lives are at stake, yet the Government has chosen to remain silent on the matter.
The hunger strike involves six individuals in British prisons who have abstained from eating for 46 days, marking a significant milestone surpassing the duration of the 1981 Irish Republican Army hunger strikes. These protests resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals due to the lack of political intervention, with Bobby Sands MP being the first casualty on the 66th day of his hunger strike.
Initiated on November 2nd, the Palestine Action hunger strike has now entered its second month, with the participants identified as Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Heba Muraisa, Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello, who have been on hunger strike for varying durations.
These individuals are abstaining from food as they await trial related to their direct action protests in support of Palestine. Two other participants have since withdrawn from the hunger strike.
The hunger strikers have put forth five demands, including an end to prison censorship, immediate bail for Palestine Action prisoners, fair trials, removal of the ‘terror’ classification of Palestine Action, and closure of all Elbit Systems sites in the UK.
Prisoners4Palestine, a prisoner-led collective representing detainees linked to Palestinian liberation, highlights Elbit Systems as Israel’s primary weapons manufacturer, urging the government not to fund such activities using taxpayer money.
The hunger strikers’ deteriorating health has raised concerns, with calls for urgent medical attention. Efforts by supporters, including MP Zarah Sultana and medical professionals, have been ongoing to address the critical situation.
Despite these pleas, the response from officials, including David Lammy, Wes Streeting, and Keir Starmer, has been awaited. Concerns over potential fatalities in UK prisons, resembling the tragic events of the 1981 Irish hunger strikes, have been expressed by various parties, including over 200 high-profile figures from the music, sports, and entertainment industries.
