LONDON: The UK government is under mounting pressure over the health of six prisoners linked to Palestine Action who are on a prolonged hunger strike, as ministers continue to reject calls for a meeting despite warnings from hundreds of healthcare professionals that the detainees face an immediate risk to their lives.
The prisoners, all held on remand and charged with offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage, have refused food for several weeks. Supporters say at least two have been taken to the hospital, intensifying fears that the strike could prove fatal.
According to Anadolu, Mothin Ali, co-deputy leader of the Green Party, said the situation had reached a critical stage, noting that some detainees have gone without food for more than 40 days. He warned that after such prolonged starvation, prisoners face a high risk of organ failure, irreversible neurological damage, and death.
Ali accused the government of failing to intervene, saying the crisis could have been avoided had ministers agreed to meet representatives of the hunger strikers to hear their concerns and demands.
The prisoners are calling for immediate bail, an end to what they describe as censorship of their communications, guarantees of a fair trial, the deproscription of Palestine Action, and the closure of Elbit Systems’ operations in the UK. The Israel-based defence company supplies much of Israel’s drone fleet and land-based military equipment and operates several facilities in Britain.
Ali said it was a damning indictment of the government that detainees felt compelled to use their own bodies to draw attention to what they describe as injustice and mistreatment in custody.
At a Downing Street briefing, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there were no plans for ministers to meet representatives of the hunger strikers. While describing the situation as very concerning, the spokesperson said hunger strikes were not uncommon in British prisons, citing more than 200 such incidents each year on average over the past five years.
The spokesperson said prison healthcare teams were providing NHS care and were continuously monitoring the detainees, rejecting claims that hospital treatment was being denied.
Pressure on the government continues to build. Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn is among those urging the chief inspector of prisons to intervene as concern grows over the prisoners’ deteriorating condition.
