London, United Kingdom – December 18, 2025 – A group of six British prisoners linked to the banned activist organization Palestine Action are on hunger strike in UK prisons, facing severe health risks and a potential threat to their lives, according to medical professionals and family members. The activists, detained without conviction, are protesting against their imprisonment and the proscription of their organization.

Hunger Strikers at Critical Risk

Dr. James Smith, an emergency physician and university lecturer in London, who is in direct contact with the hunger strikers, stated that all six prisoners are currently at a critical stage of starvation, with two refusing food for nearly seven weeks. “Put simply, the hunger strikers are dying,” Dr. Smith warned during a press briefing.

The six prisoners, aged between 20 and 31, are:

• Qesser Zuhrah
• Amu Gib
• Heba Muraisi
• Teuta Hoxha
• Kamran Ahmed
• Lewie Chiaramello (on a partial strike due to diabetes)

Urgent Call from Medical Professionals

Over 800 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, therapists, and carers, have written to UK Justice Secretary David Lammy, urging immediate intervention. They emphasized that without proper medical care, there is a “real and increasingly likely potential” that these young British citizens could die in prison before ever facing trial.

Medical experts have highlighted the severe complications caused by prolonged hunger strikes, including:

• Breakdown of heart muscles
• Kidney failure and filtration issues
• Muscle weakness affecting breathing
• Sudden cardiac arrest

According to Dr. Smith, “After three weeks of fasting, the body has already exhausted fat stores and is consuming organ tissue to maintain basic functions. The risk of sudden death is extremely high.”

Prison Conditions and Legal Context

The activists are being held across five different UK prisons in connection with alleged break-ins at the UK subsidiary of Israeli defense company Elbit Systems in Bristol and a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire. The prisoners deny the charges, which include burglary and violent disorder.

Palestine Action, which was banned in July 2025 under UK counterterrorism laws similar to those used for ISIL (ISIS), claims the UK government is complicit in Israeli war crimes. The hunger strikers’ demands include:

• Immediate bail
• A fair trial
• Lifting the ban on Palestine Action
• Closure of Elbit sites in the UK

Family Concerns and Deteriorating Health

Family members report alarming signs of physical decline. Teuta Hoxha, on her 40th day without food, suffers from low blood pressure, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, while her sister describes her as weak and preparing for death.

Similarly, Qesser Zuhrah, aged 20, experiences severe exhaustion, chest pains, and high resting heart rates. Her family reported that she regularly collapses and has become too weak for physical interaction.

Kamran Ahmed, who has refused food for 39 days, is losing approximately 0.5kg per day, dropping from 74kg to 61.5kg (163 lbs to 135 lbs). His family warns that his heart rate is slowing dangerously, calling for immediate government intervention.

Public Pressure and Political Response

Public support is growing, with over 20,000 petition signatures demanding action and more than 50 MPs urging Justice Secretary Lammy to meet the hunger strikers’ lawyers. Left-wing politicians, including former Labour leaders Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, have called for urgent engagement to prevent fatalities.

Former Guantanamo detainee Mansroor Adayfi, held without charge for 14 years, joined the hunger strike in solidarity, emphasizing that such protests are about justice, dignity, and human rights, rather than food alone.

Calls for Hospitalization and Improved Care

Healthcare professionals have recommended:

• Twice-daily medical assessments
• Daily blood tests
• 24-hour clinical supervision

Without these measures, experts insist the hunger strikers should be transferred to hospital care to manage potential life-threatening complications. Families report that hospital transfers are limited, and prisoners are unable to communicate freely with loved ones, further exacerbating stress and health risks.

Protests and Demonstrations

Protests continue outside HMP Bronzefield in Surrey and other detention centers. Activists and medical professionals have demanded immediate hospitalization and proper medical oversight. Left-wing MP Zarah Sultana joined demonstrations, stressing the urgency of the situation.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that prisoner food refusal is being managed according to policy, with medical assessments and mental health support provided. However, families and human rights advocates dispute that prisons can adequately care for individuals at such a critical stage of starvation.