Four Palestine Action prisoners held in UK jails have been on a hunger strike for 56 days, with their health rapidly declining. The prisoners, identified as Teuta Hoxha, Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello, are currently awaiting trial in various UK prisons.
Heba Muraisi, detained at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, reports feeling “weaker as each day passes,” suffering from bruising on her arm and constant body aches. She stated, “I can no longer lie on my side as it hurts my face. I am losing the ability to form sentences and struggling to maintain conversation.”
Teuta Hoxha, aged 29, held at HMP Peterborough, is described as “virtually bedridden,” experiencing dizzy spells and brain fog. She is unable to stand without blacking out.
Two other activists, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, ended their hunger strike after 48 days due to severe health complications and were hospitalised at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. Serious allegations have arisen that Qesser Zuhrah was denied timely ambulance care, leading to protests outside Bronzefield prison. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana has publicly supported the campaign.
The Ministry of Justice has strongly denied any mistreatment of the prisoners.
The eight activists face charges related to break-ins at Elbit Systems UK and RAF Brize Norton. Authorities accuse them of sabotage involving red paint on RAF planes. Their earliest trial date is scheduled for May 2026.
On Tuesday, the four hunger strikers demanded that Heba Muraisi be transferred back to Bronzefield. They also called for immediate bail and the right to free, unsupervised communication.
A spokesperson for Prisoners for Palestine said: “Unlike prison guards who lock up prisoners early to go home for Christmas dinner, the hunger strikers get no Christmas break. Like Gaza’s Christians freezing under settler-colonial terror, these strikers tell us, ‘Don’t forget Palestine at Christmas.’ They demand a meeting with the British government on their behalf.”
Lawyers have warned that the prisoners face a risk of death if their demands continue to be ignored. They have initiated legal action against the UK government for “abandoning its own prison safety policy framework.” Multiple letters to Justice Secretary David Lammy have gone unanswered.
James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, told The Independent that hunger strikes are a grim but familiar challenge. He insisted the government’s systems are “robust” and stated that they will not negotiate with prisoners or their representatives.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that ministers will not intervene in individual prison cases, citing the need to protect ongoing legal proceedings and judicial independence. Decisions regarding healthcare are made by NHS professionals.
An HMP Bronzefield spokesperson affirmed that all prisoners are managed under strict government policies and security assessments.
The hunger strike began in mid-November 2025. Despite some strikers being hospitalised, the remaining four continue their protest, risking their lives to highlight the Palestinian cause and demanding urgent government action before it is too late.
Originally published by UKNIP.
