Activist Hospitalized After 46 Days of Hunger Strike in UK

A protester linked to Palestine Action has been hospitalized after completing 46 days of a hunger strike while in custody. According to British media, Qesser Zuhrah, aged 20, is one of eight remand prisoners who have refused food since their detention for allegedly breaking into an Elbit Systems facility near Bristol. This Israeli arms company has been at the center of controversy over its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Reports indicate that two of the hunger strikers have recently ended their protest. Palestine Action has been designated as a terrorist organization by the UK government, yet a number of Members of Parliament have expressed support for the imprisoned activists. Demonstrations have occurred outside the prison in Surrey, where the activists are held.

Supporters, including the group Prisoners for Palestine, allege that the UK Prison Service refused to allow an ambulance into HMP Bronzefield on December 16, despite warnings that Zuhrah’s condition was critical. Zara Sultana, the Member of Parliament representing the Your Party, urged Justice Secretary David Lammy to meet with the activists’ representatives, a request that went unfulfilled.

In a show of solidarity, Jeremy Corbyn, a fellow MP, echoed Sultana’s calls, claiming that the prison conditions breached established rules. Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the government’s approach, stating that it adheres to established guidelines regarding hunger strikes. Corbyn criticized Starmer’s response, calling it “shameful” and indicative of a lack of compassion for individuals facing life-threatening circumstances.

The strike commenced on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration of 1917, a significant historical moment when the British government expressed support for establishing a Jewish state in Palestine. Over the past two years, the UK has witnessed large-scale protests advocating for Palestinian rights amid ongoing violence in Gaza and heightened tensions in the West Bank.

As public pressure grows, activists have taken to more extreme measures. The Ministry of Justice building was recently vandalized with red paint by pro-Palestine demonstrators. In parallel, police in London and Manchester have announced intentions to arrest individuals for chanting the slogan “globalise the intifada,” which translates to resistance against Israeli occupation. While this action has received support from some Jewish organizations, it has been condemned by pro-Palestine groups as an infringement on the right to protest.

On December 17, police made two arrests in London related to these demonstrations. With tensions rising and public interest in the plight of the hunger strikers increasing, the situation remains fluid, with calls for further action and advocacy for their rights intensifying.

This ongoing case highlights the complex interplay of activism, human rights, and governmental responses in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.