At 12PM on Saturday 15th November, five protestors were arrested under the Terrorism Act for dropping a large banner from Westminster Bridge which read, ‘We Support The Hunger Strike. We Support Palestine Action.’
The action was taken not only in support of Palestine Action, who were proscribed as a ‘terrorist’ group, by the British government, on the 5th July 2025, but in support of the hunger-strike currently being undertaken by a number of Palestine Action prisoners. The prisoners, who have formed Prisoners For Palestine, launched an indefinite, rolling, national hunger-strike on the 2nd of November, the anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration, in support of a list of demands communicated to the government 2 weeks earlier.
The first 2 prisoners to refuse food were Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gibb in Bronzefield Prison, and over the next few days they were joined by Heba Muraisi in New Hall Prison, Jon Cink in Bronzefield Prison, T Hoxha in Peterborough Prison, and Kamran Ahmed in Pentonville. All the prisoners have been held on remand since being arrested by counter-terrorist police a year ago, though none are charged with terrorist offences. Qesser, Heba, T and Kamran are members of the Filton 24, accused of destroying killer drones at Elbit UK’s facility in Filton, Bristol. Amu and Jon have been imprisoned since June, accused of being involved in the Palestine Action raid on RAF Brize Norton, when cargo planes were sprayed with red paint. More prisoners are expected to join the hunger strike.
The prisoners demands are that the prisons stop censoring and restricting their mail, phone calls, and books, that they have a right to a fair trial, without the interference of the British and Israeli states, and Israeli arms companies like Elbit Systems. Elbit are Israel’s biggest arms manufacturer, supplying 85% of the predator drones used to kill Palestinians in Gaza, and the prisoners are demanding their British factories close for good. After a year, unconvicted, on remand, with up to another year to come, before trial, well-exceeding the statutory custody limit of 6 months, the prisoners are demanding immediate bail. With their harsh treatment having deteriorated even further since Palestine Action were proscribed, the prisoners are demanding deproscription.
There has been a huge outpouring of public support for Palestine Action since they were proscribed, with more than 2000 people already arrested, mainly for holding up signs reading, ‘I Oppose Genocide. I Support Palestine Action.’ It is anticipated that the protestors responsible for today’s banner drop, shaming the British Parliament to its face, will join the ever-swelling numbers of those arrested under the Terrorism Act. Defend Our Juries, who have been co-ordinating the protests, will next week launch another wave of civil disobedience, with protests planned in dozens of British towns and cities. The Lift The Ban actions are timed to coincide with the Palestine Action challenge to their proscription, by way of Judicial Review, which will take place between the 25th and 27th November.
This weekend there are also protests at seven British prisons: Pentonville, New Hall, Styal, Low Newton, Bronzefield, Peterborough, and Eastwood Park. The solidarity actions will take place on both Saturday and Sunday.
Despite Prisoners For Palestine communicating their demands to the Home Secretary 2 weeks before the protest began, as the hunger-strike enters its 3rd week, there has still been no response from Keir Starmer’s government.
The first of the three trials of the Filton 24 begins at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, 17th November, and there will be solidarity demonstrations outside the court.
A spokesperson from Prisoners for Palestine said:
“Today’s banner drop echoes the sentiment of people across this country, who are disgusted by the proscription of Palestine Action and the ongoing imprisonment of protestors who oppose genocide. There are six prisoners for Palestine who are engaging in an open ended hunger strike, left with no other option but to use their bodies as a tool to resist injustice.
Each of the prisoners face up to two years on remand without trial, far exceeding the six month pre-trial custody time limit. They’ve also faced harsher treatment due to the weaponising of counter-terrorism powers against them. Now, they’ve entered their 14th day of hunger strike and people across the country are mobilising in support of them.”
Images
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