Category: Uncategorized

The letter addresses the Health and Justice Commissioning Team NHS England

To Whom it May Concern within the Health and Justice Commissioning Team NHS England,

As medical professionals, we are writing to draw your urgent attention to the case of six individuals who have undertaken hunger strikes across prisons in Britain. The individuals concerned in this letter are:

• Qesser Zuhrah (Bronzefield Prison, on remand since 19th November 2024)
• Amu Gardiner-Gibson (Bronzefield Prison, on remand since July 3rd 2025)
• Jon Cink (Bronzefield Prison, on remand since July 3rd 2025)
• Heba Muraisi (New Hall Prison, on remand since 19th November 2024)
• Teuta Hoxha (Peterborough Prison, on remand since 19th November 2024)
• Kamran Ahmed (Pentonville Prison, on remand since 19th November 2024)

We have written separately to the Governor of each prison to highlight our serious concerns regarding their current hunger strikes – which for some, started on 2nd November 2025.

As well as the absence of appropriate safe medical management, to our knowledge these individuals have not yet received the necessary daily clinical monitoring required for patients refusing food and are at risk of sudden electrolyte disturbance, hypoglycaemia and cardiac arrest. In addition, some are already showing signs of this.

After speaking with family, our understanding is that several prisoners conducting hunger strikes have had low blood sugar, for significant periods of time, this constitutes a medical emergency and our understanding is that this is being managed incorrectly.

Many of the prisoners have experienced significant weight loss, including Amy who lost 5 kg within one week and Kamran who upon starting his hunger strike weighed 74 kg and now weighs 68 kg.

They face significant risk of re-feeding syndrome on discontinuation of fasting; managing this complex syndrome requires specialist medical oversight.

Most urgently, there is growing concern for Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello. Kamran Ahmed’s health has deteriorated rapidly since 21st November, when he collapsed. On 23rd November, as a result of dangerously low blood sugar levels (3.2), indicating hypoglycemia, the prison administration called an ambulance. The paramedics refused to take him to hospital, claiming that there was nothing they could do for him while he continued to refuse food. On the same day, prison guards put food into his cell, ignoring their own advice on refeeding syndrome, in a blatant violation of their duty of care.

Another prisoner, Lewie Chiaramello (HMP Bristol) has announced that he will be fasting every other day despite being diabetic, a serious risk to his health. The situation has reached a level of urgency that requires the British government to enter into negotiations with the prisoners immediately, so the hunger strike can be ended safely.

As you are aware, the commissioning of prison healthcare has, since 2006, rested with NHS England Health & Justice. We therefore remind you of NHS England’s statutory responsibility to ensure that healthcare services provided within custodial environments are:

– Equivalent to community care (Healthcare Standards, PSI 6/2011);
 – Delivered in accordance with the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code;
 – Clinically independent, free from non-medical interference;
 – Sufficient to meet the obligations of the State under the Human Rights Act 1998 (Articles 2 and 3). We note that:
 – PSO 3050 (Management of Prisoners Refusing Food/Fluid) requires daily medical assessments, with hospital transfer where indicated;
 – PSI 64/2011 (Safer Custody) states that all agencies involved must act to protect life where identifiable risk exists.

Given that some of these prisoners are soon entering into their fourth week of hunger strike and is now at a critical stage, we insist that NHS England exercises its commissioning oversight to ensure that:

1. All hunger strikers receive immediate and ongoing medical review by suitably qualified clinicians, independent of prison operational staff.
 2. Appropriate hospital referral pathways are active, and transfer occurs if clinically indicated.
 3. NHS-commissioned healthcare staff are supported and protected in fulfilling their professional and statutory duty of care.
 4. A review is conducted without delay into whether current arrangements at HMP Peterborough, Pentonville, Bronzefield and New Hall meet NHS England’s commissioning standards. This situation risks imminent harm to their health and life. Failure to take immediate appropriate action would constitute a breach, not only of professional and commissioning standards, but also raise serious concerns of compliance with the United Kingdom’s human rights obligations. We would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of this letter urgently and clarify what urgent steps are being taken by NHS England to ensure that care at HMP Peterborough, HMP Bronzefield, and HMP Pentonville meets required standards.

We, the undersigned, demand that action is taken now to prevent further harm to the health of those that you have a duty of care towards.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Busra Nalbant, Gp
Dr Muhammad Quraishi,
 GP Miss Jennifer Wood, Midwife,
 Dr Jonathan Fluxman, Retired GP
 Dr Judith Atkinson, Retired GP
 Mrs Priti Chouhan, Accountant
 Mr Abdel Montasir, IG specialist
 Ms Joanne Mcewan, Specialist community public
 Dr Paul O’Brien, Associate Specialist
 Mr Roger Evans, Registered Nurse BsC Hons
 Jo Hindley, Retired Midwife
 Dr Molly Davey, Anaesthetist
 Dr Hugh Hathaway, Core trainee in psychiatry
 Mrs Zainah Dulloo, Pharmacist
 Dr Rana Najim, GP
 Dr Sabina Hashmy, GP
 Andee Vaughan, Registered Nurse BA, BSN, RN
 Dr Timothy Paris, Psychiatrist
 Mr Tanzeel Abid, Biomedical Scientist
 Dr Deen Mirza GP / MRCGP
 Dr Thanos Tsapas Consultant psychiatrist
 Dr Nadine Ebeid Psychiatry CT3
 Dr Silvia Yasuda Consultant
 Dr Harriet Crook Emergency Medicine Specialist
 Ms Jerina Begum
 Dr Asif Khapedi GPST2
 Dr Huda Mahmoud NHS Consultant
 Dr Foyzur Miah MBBS
 Ms Jenni Crisp NHS employee
 Farhaana Surti MBChB
 Dr Saleha Patel GP
 Dr Naomi Adelson GP
 Dr Rhiannon Mihranian Osborne Medical Doctor
 Dr Katharine Fallon MB ChB
 Dr David McKelvey Retired GP
 Dr Habib Rahman Consultant Cardiologist
 Dr Cate Bailey Consultant psychiatrist
 Dr Kathrin Thomas Retired GP
 Miss Ruqia Gill Registration Nurse
 Dr Clare Nickalls, MB Bch university hospital
 Marion Neffgen, NHS doctor
 Dr Ida Bakar Consultant in Rehabilitation
 Doctor Paula Mulvenna, Consultant Clinical Oncologist
 Dr Alice Clack, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
 Dr Mary Hewitt, Retired GP Dr Mary Madden, Anaesthetist
 Mr Jesse Fayle, RMN
 Dr John Puntis BM(Hons); DM; FRCP;FRCA
 Ms Amanda Makin, Retired nurse
 Mr Paul Chambers, Charity Co Founder
 Dr Miranda Penman Splitt, MBBS MD FRCP
 Dr Matthew Lumley, Consultant Haematologist
 Dr Daniel Hadley, MRCPsych
 Dr James Smith, Emergency Doctor & Lecturer
 Ms Mary Light Retired Nurse
 Dr Catherine Dyer, Retired
 Dr Richard Dyer, Retired GP
 Ms Clare Jones, Retired Nurse
 Dr Lisa Lobo MBBS
 Dr Catherine Dyer, Retired GP
 Mrs Patricia Rogers, Administration
 Dr Azhar Malik, Retired GP
 Dr Juliette Brown, Consultant
 Dr Anne Read, Retired consultant psychiatrist
 Mr Chris Waites, Dementia Specialist Clinical
 Mrs Khadijah Ismailjee, Pharmacist
 Michael Foulkes, Consultant Family Psychotherapist
 Dr Faiza Malik, MBBS
 Mr Roger Evans, Registered Nurse BsC Hons
 Mr Roger Evans, Registered Nurse BsC Hons Sarah Alam, GP
 Mrs Mubashshira Patel, Pharmacist
 Mrs Norma Wilson, Retired Counsellor
 Dr Imrana Siddiqui, GP
 Dr Samantha Perera, Consultant Psychiatrist
 Dr Abbas Tariq, GP
Charlotte Rose, Principal Psychological Therapist in Eating Disorders, Psychotherapist (UKCP), Mental Health Nurse (NMC)
Dr Danny Vincent, GP
Dr Roghieh Dehghan, Dr med univ
Mrs Fahima Shubarna, Senior Healthcare Assistant
Dr Zein Toukan, GP
Sara Rabhi, General practitioner
Mr David Drake, MB ChB (Hons) MSc MRCS
Dr Athif Ilyas, MBBS BSc (Hons) PGDip (Oxon) AICSM MRCPysch
Dr Victoria Holt, MRCGP
Dr Romola Pocock, GP
Dr S Dar, Doctor
Dr Khalid Aziz, Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Shahan Nizar, Consultant,
Omer Duqeh, Executive Director of Operations
Dr Sara Akhazzan, Resident Doctor
Dr Harshana Sangtani, Doctor
Ms Angela Taylor, Specialist Renal Counsellor
Mr Albert Nti, Registered nurse
Ms Dilly de-Ville, Retired Midwife
Miss María Valero, Hca
Mrs Carol Dean, Admin
Dr Rukyya Hassan. Consultant psychiatrist
Dr Hossam El Sheik, Consultant Gynaecologist
Dr Tennyson Lee, Consultant Psychiatrist
Mr. Andrew Keen, Data Manager/analyst
Rufus George, Deputy Nurse Manager
Dr Abrar Mohamed Mahmoud, Doctor
Mr Wail Afandi, Hospital Doctor
Mr Hussein Khambalia, Consultant Surgeon
Helen Green, Midwife
Dr. Abeer Omar, Professor
Ms Siobhan Hier, Retired health visitor
Dr Ahmad Dowedar, Consultant
Dr Adnan Siddiqui, GP partner MRCGP
Dr Musaad Qurash, Consultant
Dr Danielle James Gayle, Doctor
Dr Faiza Hassan, MBCHb MRCGP
Linnéa Freear, Clinical Scientist
Dr Winona Martell-Brown, Doctor
Dr Nadhya Qureshi, FRCA
Dr Amina Rawat, Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Lamisha Patel, MBChB MRCGP
Dr Fozia Suleman, MBChB MRCGP

Kamran’s family have still not been informed of his whereabouts as over 100 medical doctors sign letter of concern

On the morning of Tuesday 25th November, hunger-striker Kamran Ahmed, remanded at HMP Pentonville for over a year, was hospitalised, due to his rapidly deteriorating health. 

Kamran was arrested in a violent dawn raid in November 2024, accused of being involved in a Palestine Action intervention at an arms facility in Filton, Bristol, owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons maker. During the action, Israeli quadcopter drones were discovered, and dismantled by the group. Eventually, 24 people were rounded up, using counter-terrorism legislation, and remanded in custody, despite not being charged with any terrorist offence. The first of the Filton 24 went on trial this week, while others can expect to wait until next summer, or later, until the allegations against them are heard.

Kamran, imprisoned since his arrest, and denied bail despite being sole carer for his elderly parents, joined the Prisoners for Palestine hunger-strike on the 10th November, becoming the sixth prisoner refusing food.

An asthmatic, Kamran has been suffering from dizziness, breathing difficulties, and chest pains, as well as low blood sugar and dangerously high ketone levels. After over a year in prison, on remand, Kamran who is nearly 6ft tall, weighed 74kg before joining the hunger-protest. When he was last weighed, this had dropped to only 68kg. On Friday, he collapsed, with low blood sugar levels indicating hypoglycemia. Kamran’s family have heard nothing further, since he was hospitalised this morning.

On Tuesday afternoon supporters marched from Pentonville Prison to the Ministry of Justice, in Central London, in order to highlight the medical neglect which has led to Kamran’s hospitalisation, and calling for the government to respond to the hunger-strikers demands. Despite the short notice, scores of protestors supported the heavily-policed march, with local people coming out to show their support. They carried huge banners reading ‘Drop The Charges’ and ‘Resistance Is Not Terrorism’. According to people on the march, the policing of a peaceful demonstration was very heavy-handed, with several marchers arrested, including an elderly woman on crutches, who was tackled to the ground by the police.

Kamran’s sister, Shahmina Amal, who organised the protest, said: “All of this could have been avoided if the government would have engaged in conversations about the demands, which they are yet to respond to. I am angry, I am sad, I don’t think there is words to put to the pain of a sister who was in a press conference last week stating that I fear the day I get a call to say Kamran has collapsed, and now I am living my worst fear. I stand by my brother and the demands of the hunger strike, the demands must be met, they are things the government should be doing and I am disgusted that the government has chosen to ignore the hunger strikers with no care or consideration to their sanctity of their health and lives”

In response to the treatment of the hunger strikers, a letter signed by over 100 medical doctors has been sent to the Health and Justice Commissioning NHS Team, expressing their growing concern over how the hunger strikers are being mishandled. 

Despite the indifference of the government to the hunger-strike, support for the prisoners continues to grow. Numerous groups and organisations have already pledged support, including Defend Our Juries, Campaign Against The Arms Trade, CAGE International, and Black Lives Matter UK. There have been solidarity protests outside prisons holding the hunger-strikers, and solidarity action by political prisoners overseas. Letters have also been sent to the government from MPs Jeremy Corbyn MP and Zarah Sultana. Prisoners For Palestine designated today an International Day of Action.

Speaking on Tuesday on behalf of Prisoners for Palestine, former Palestine Action prisoner Francesca Nadin said:​​​​​​​​​​​ “Today, 23 days since the Prisoners for Palestine hunger-strike began, and more than 5 weeks since the British government received notice, Kamran Ahmed became the first of the prisoners to be hospitalised. The callous disregard of the prison authorities, for the health and well-being of the prisoners in their care, has matched that of the British state, with medical negligence being consistent throughout the hunger protest. To avoid further harm to the quickly deteriorating health of the hunger-strikers, it is imperative that the government addresses the prisoners demands, and engages with them, to bring the protest to an end.”

Take action at your local British Embassy or Consulate. Show them that the people stand with them around the world.

London

Royal Courts of Justice, London, WC2A 2LL

Tues, Nov 25th, 10am to 4pm

Join us outside court during the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action, to raises our voices for the prisoners.

Call to action posters

Eighteen days since the start of the Prisoners For Palestine rolling, indefinite hunger-strike, and more than a month since the Home Secretary was notified of the prisoners’ intentions, and of their demands, there has still been no response from the British government. With the health of the six hunger-strikers already deteriorating, and the first of the Filton 24 trials finally beginning this week, a joint Prisoners For Palestine/CAGE International online press conference was held this morning.

Alongside Francesca Nadin, from Prisoners for Palestine, was Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy at CAGE International, barrister Franck Magennis (Riverway to the Sea), Palestinian/Egyptian film maker and activist Saeed Taji Farouky, Shahmina Alam, sister of Kamran Ahmed, of the Filton 24, and one of the Prisoners For Palestine hunger-strikers, and RAF Veteran Steve Masters, representing Defend Our Juries. There was also a solidarity statement from veteran activist Bernadette McAliskey.

Anas Mustapha of CAGE  was first to speak, expressing full support for all the prisoners, and to all those taking part in the hunger-strike. Urging the government to respond to the prisoners demands, Anas said that only one conclusion could be drawn from their lack of action: “Britain is more invested in enabling and defending a foreign entity’s genocide than in safeguarding the rights and safety of its citizens. As the lack of food begins to take its toll on those striking, the risk to their health increases by the day.”

This week saw the start of the first of the 3 Filton 24 trials at Woolwich Crown Court, with Zoe Rogers, Fatema Zainab (Ray) Rajwani, Jordan Devlin, Samuel Corner, and Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Head, accused of breaking into an Elbit Systems facility in Filton, Bristol, and causing damage to a weapons shipment due to be sent to the Israeli military, for use in Gaza. Elbit produces 85% of the deadly Quadcopter drones used to target civilians, particularly children, in the Gaza Genocide. The Filton 24 maintain that they have upheld international law, while it is Elbit, and the British government who are the criminals.

The Right to a Fair Trial is a key demand of the hunger-strikers. Not only were they violently arrested, and held as ‘terrorists’, despite not being charged with any terrorist offence, but all 6 activists now on trial have been held for more than a year already, with long waits still ahead for most of the other prisoners. There has, provably, been interference in the judicial process by the Israeli government, Elbit Systems, their biggest weapons maker, and the collusion of the British government, police, and Crown Prosecution Service, as well as the withholding of evidence. It is for this reason that the hunger-strikers are also demanding immediate bail.

This morning, Franck Magennis told the press conference: “The British State is wielding the blunt weapon of remand in custody, denying people bail to attack the anti-Zionist movement, and it’s most principled activists. Many of these comrades have spent years remanded on bail, and many people accused of offenses related to Palestine solidarity are likely to be acquitted by juries, formed of ordinary people, increasingly outraged at the ongoing Zionist Genocide.”

With the trial set to last 10 weeks, the prisoners on trial at Woolwich Crown Court, are having considerable daily suffering inflicted upon them, with several being brought from HMP Bronzefield, a 2 hour journey away. They are being woken each day at 5am, and transported in vehicles known as ‘sweat boxes’, by the notoriously incompetent and uncaring private prisons company, Serco. They are receiving little if any food, their court clothes, (and at least one of their evidence bundles), are being lost or misplaced, and it is difficult for them to shower, rest, make phone calls, or consult with their lawyers, particularly as they often arrive at court late.

Despite the disinterest of the British government in the health and welfare of the Prisoners For Palestine hunger-strikers, (Qesser, Amu, Heba, Jon, T, and Kamran), there has been a groundswell of support both in Britain and abroad, with protests and actions taking place, including seven solidarity protests outside British prisons last weekend, with hundreds attending, a banner drop on Westminster Bridge, and political prisoners abroad taking solidarity action.

Shahmina Alam, sister of hunger-striker Kamran Ahmed, and a pharmacist who fully understood the health implications of the protest, told the press conference, of her brother, who is experiencing breathing difficulties: “I dread the call I’m going to get today, I also dread the call I’m going to get telling me that he’s passed out, I dread the day I don’t receive a phone call at all.”

Another key demand of the hunger-strikers is the deproscription of Palestine Action. With the proscription set to be challenged by way of Judicial Review, between the 25^th and 27^th of November, Defend Our Juries have organised a fresh wave of ‘Lift The Ban’ protests, which started yesterday in 10 British towns and cities, and will continue at least until the 29^th November. The more than 150 people arrested for holding up signs opposing Genocide, and supporting Palestine Action, will join more than 2000 other activists previously arrested at ‘Lift The Ban’ demos, including Steve Masters, an RAF veteran of 19 years, who spoke at this morning’s press conference, saying: “I never imagined that I would have to protest the complicity of my own government in a genocide.”

Saeed Taji Farouky centred the hunger-strike very much in the Palestinian struggle, telling the press conference: “These are people who inherit a very proud legacy of Palestinian resistance in general, and also Palestinian resistance within prisons in particular, and I assure you that the Palestinian people themselves consider these prisoners an integral part of the fight against Zionism, an integral part of the liberation movement.”

While suffering physically due to the effects of the hunger-strike, the six prisoners currently taking part in the protest remain strong, defiant, and committed to winning their six demands:

1. An end to the censorship of letters and books, and freedom of expression.
2. Immediate bail.
3. The right to a fair trial.
4. The deproscription of Palestine Action.
5. The closure of all Elbit weapons factories in Britain.

Speaking for Prisoners for Palestine, former Palestine Action prisoner, Francesca Nadin, said: “Those on hunger-strike, and all the prisoners, stand shoulder to shoulder with those on trial currently. We are united in this fight, whether it be in the courts, in the prisons, or on the streets.” Of the hunger-strikers, she said, “They are taking power back into their own hands, for justice, for freedom, and most importantly for the liberation of Palestine.”

Francesca then read Bernadette McAliskey’s inspiring solidarity statement. Speaking of the terrible cost paid by the Irish hunger-strikers imprisoned by the British Crown, Bernadette reminded us that, “there is no barbarity, no abuse of the political system, no abuse of the law to cover their own breaches of International Law, to which a British government, still imbued by Colonial entitlement and privilege will not stoop.”

Bernadette’s message of solidarity continued: “Our hearts break for the ‘Filton’ and ‘Brize Norton’ prisoners, their families and friends, because we have been there. We know the price a morally bankrupt Government will exact from the young idealists who, to prevent international crime, and terrorist action, took direct preventative action against the weapons of war. This is not terrorism. This is resistance. This is direct action forced on decent human beings because the government, with whom the duty lies to resist terrorism, is implicit in it by omission and commission.”

Civil and human rights activists in Ireland, North and South, join with those across the UK in being righteously outraged by the actions of the Labour Government in criminalising legitimate protest against genocide and the government’s complicity in facilitating and financing it.   While many life-time supporters of the British Labour party find it almost beyond belief that UK citizens would find themselves imprisoned in Britain, and their fundamental rights as prisoners violated to the extent that they have determined to protest this injustice with the one thing left to them, their lives, we in Ireland, are not surprised.  We have been here, many times, under both Tory and Labour colonial governments, as has Palestine.  Following the daylight murder, in January 1972, of peaceful protesters marching against imprisonment without trial; the barbarian treatment of Irish prisoners Marian & Dolores Price, force-fed in a British prison by pouring jugs of ‘gruel’ directly into the stomach through a tube forced down the throat, to holding a pregnant woman, not even charged then or since, in solitary confinement in Belmarsh Male high security prison, right through to the hunger strikes of 1980 and 1981 in which ten prisoners, whose average age was 25 years old lost their lives, there is no barbarity, no abuse of the political system, no abuse of the law to cover their own breaches of International Law, to which a British government still imbued by Colonial entitlement and privilege would not stoop.

Our hearts break for the ‘Filton’ and ‘Brize Norton‘ prisoners, their families and friends, because we have been there.  We know the price a morally bankrupt Government will exact from the young idealists who, to prevent international crime, and terrorist action, took direct preventative action against the weapons of war.  This is not terrorism.  This is resistance.  This is direct action forced on decent human beings because the government, with whom the duty lies to resist terrorism, is complicit in it by omission and commission.

Keir Starmer is a barrister of note. He is not ignorant of the law. He is contemptuous of it as is the Home Secretary. The have abused their stewardship to fashion the law to serve the needs of their colonial project – the State of Israel – at any cost. The courage and integrity of the Filton 24 and Brize Norton 5 stands in stark contrast to that.  It is for exposing the moral bankruptcy of the government, for resisting the abuse of power in fashioning ‘anti-terrorist’ legislation, and rendering illegal, legitimate action for the ‘crime’ of being effective. Their purpose and intent is to terrorise people from speaking out and speaking up against the genocide of Palestinians and destruction of Palestine.  Their treatment of the Filton prisoners is to make an example of them and still they resist. The British government needs to learn from its past errors. This policy of repression and terror does not lead to people giving up, giving in, going home, and saying nothing. A safer, better, kinder, and more equal world will not come from militarisation war and recolonisation. The people are entitled to assume that the Government knows that, and as long as it remains committed to pursuing those policies, they must resist. 

I stand unequivocally with the Filton 24, with Palestine Action, and in this tormented hour with the hunger strikers and their families and friends. I call on every human being in the land with a conscience to do the same.  They have ‘terrorised’ nobody! Nobody is afraid of them. People are afraid for them and for others at the mercy of a Labour government that is daily abusing its power and responsibility to placate the USA and Israel and share the colonial spoils of war. I echo to Keir Starmer the question Pearse asked of the Government of his day:

‘Did you think to conquer the people, or that Law was stronger than life and the desire to be free? We will have it out with you! Tyrants, hypocrites, Liars’

Solidarity and Strength. Bernadette

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

images (free to use with credits to @martin_pope_photographer) : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/izpfrcf2m1q4e419d9kuc/AGb7g5cqXguobaG95MCIbyY?rlkey=ex1r46p520wdvg68gttmbko6z&st=hbbg1ypg&dl=0

Solidarity to all prisoners held in UK dungeons! This weekend we call on you all to join us in this cross city solidarity action taking place across multiple UK prisons.

Let our voices break through the walls and send our solidarity and rage to those who have sacrificed their livelihoods for justice!

Check the details for your closest demo!

Saturday 15th November

• HMP Pentonville, London N7 8TT — 4pm
• HMP Newhall, Wakefield WF4 4AX — 4.30pm
• HMP Styal, Wilmslow SK9 4HR — 5pm
• HMP Low Newton, Durham DH1 5YA — 5pm
• HMP Bronzefield, Ashford TW15 3JZ — 5.30pm

Sunday 16th November

• HMP Peterborough PE3 7PD — 4pm
• HMP Eastwood Park, South Gloucestershire GL12 8DB — 4.30pm

Yesterday, November 4th, I received news of the start of a hunger strike called by tens of political prisoners imprisoned in the United Kingdom for their struggles in solidarity with and for the liberation of Palestine.

In recent months, I read about comrade Teuta “T” Hoxha’s hunger strike, and was able to follow her story and that of comrades Casey Goonan and Malik Muhammad. I had time to ponder in case, as I expected, another chance presented itself to join a struggle which I feel an affinity for, which I feel deeply is my own.

The struggle against prison and the military techno-industrial system is essential for a struggle of broader scope, of revolutionary and internationalist resistance.
I am joining in the hunger strike, starting on November 8th, and will carry it out with an eye to the tactics and approach proposed by the comrades who initiated it. If it continues indefinitely, I will go on while paying attention to my body’s limits, deciding for myself whether and when to stop and continue the protest by other means.

I will take the time I need to share further thoughts as the protest continues. The reasons for this struggle, the actions for which these comrades are now imprisoned, speak for themselves.

I stand by their side with serenity and resolve.

Currently, I do not know whether the Palestinian comrade Anan Yaeesh, imprisoned in Melfi, is still on hunger strike. Regardless, my solidarity with him, Ali, and Mansour is vivid and strong.

With humility and respect, I close these lines by quoting the Kurdish comrade Sakîne Cansiz:

“On the other hand, facing the enemy on your own is also a special thing. Revolutionary will gathers in you. You can feel within yourself conviction, determination, the pure desire to fight. It is the most beautiful part of revolutionary struggle. Nothing distracts you, and you demolish the enemy with the strength of your personality. It is something to do with you, but also with the enemy’s image reflected in you. In your defense, it recognizes its impotence.”

Luca Dolce, known as Stecco, anarchist comrade
Sanremo prison