These Palestine Action Activists In The UK Are Now On The Brink Of Dying After 64 Days On Hunger Strike In Prison
Two of the activists, Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed, have refused food for 64 and 71 days, respectively; while Lewie Chiaramello, who just turned 23, is on his 50th day of the hunger strike.
Three Palestine Action activists, who have been on a hunger strike for more than 64 days after being detained in the UK’s prisons for over a year without trial, are now on the brink of death.
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestine group founded in 2020 that uses non-violent direct action to disrupt the arms industry in the UK, which supplies the Israeli army with weapons used in its genocide in Gaza.
The group most frequently targets British factories linked to Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.
The detained activists are part of Palestine Action’s "Filton 24" and "Brize Norton 5" groups that broke into Elbit Systems' Filton facility in August 2024 and Royal Air Force base Brize Norton in June 2025 respectively.
The UK government banned Palestine Action on July 5 as a terrorist organization, making it illegal for people in the UK to be a member of or support Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act of 2000.
People found guilty of supporting Palestine Action will face penalties of up to 14 years in prison, similar to showing support for groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.
The activists detained have now spent more than 12 months in custody awaiting trial, far beyond the UK’s six-month pre-trial detention limit that normally applies in England and Wales.
On Nov. 2, eight of the detainees were still in prison and began a hunger strike in protest against what they say is “systematic abuse” in the prisons, including wardens referring to them as “terrorists”, confiscating their clothing and restricting their visits and letters.
They are Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, Kamran Ahmed, Teuta Hoxha, Qesser Zuhrah, Lewie Chiaramello and Umer Khalid.
Five of the activists have since ended their hunger strike over serious health concerns.
Two of the activists, Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed, have refused food for 64 and 71 days, respectively; while Lewie Chiaramello, who just turned 23, is on his 50th day of the hunger strike.
Muraisi is experiencing uncontrollable muscle spasms, which could indicate neurological damage, breathing difficulties and deteriorating memory, according to Al Jazeera.
Flavie Chen
Ikran Dahir
