Hunger striker rushed to hospital 59 days into Palestine protest

A hunger striker is said to be ‘at imminent risk of death’ as it was revealed he has been hospitalised six times during 59 days without food while on remand in prison.

Kamran Ahmed was transferred to hospital from HMP Pentonville in north London in the early hours of this morning, according to supporters.  

Ahmed, from east London, is one of three remaining hunger strikers who are taking the action while awaiting trial over their alleged roles in Palestine Action raids on defence facilities.  

The 28-year-old was said by supporters to have been hospitalised after an electrocardiogram heart test picked up abnormal readings, with his next of kin being notified.  

Heba Muraisi, the longest-running hunger striker from an initial group of eight, is also said to be in grave danger after 66 days without food.  

The 31-year-old, also from east London, has said ‘I am dying in my cell’ and told of how she is struggling to breathe and concentrate. 

The time she has spent on hunger strike now equals the point reached by IRA prison leader Bobby Sands without food when he died in 1981. 

Zarah Sultana MP, who is campaigning on behalf of the group, said: ‘Kamran Ahmed is at imminent risk of death.

‘Today, on day 59 of his hunger strike, he has been hospitalised for the sixth time. In 1981, two of the ten IRA hunger strikers in British prisons died before reaching day 59.  

‘Two more died before day 61, and by day 73 all ten had passed away.’  

The action was started by an original group of eight placed on remand while charged with offences relating to break-ins and criminal damage either at Elbit Systems in August 2024 or another raid at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in June last year. 

The group have now been in prison on remand for more than a year, breaking the UK’s standard six-month pre-trial detention limit.  

On Tuesday, Teuta Hoxha became the latest activist to end her hunger strike after 58 days without food. 

Ms Sultana said: ‘Teuta Hoxha has also been hospitalised after ending her hunger strike yesterday, on day 58.

‘She, too, is at imminent risk of death, and may be suffering complications related to re-feeding syndrome.’ 

The protesters’ demands include ‘end all censorship’ of communication and correspondence in jail, immediate bail, ‘right to a fair trial’, de-proscribing Palestine Action and shutting Elbit down. 

Muraisi is also protesting against being moved from HMP Bronzefield in Surrey to HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, more than 200 miles from her family and support network in East London. 

The Prisoners for Palestine group has suggested that returning her to the previous jail will also be a factor in whether she ends her action.  

Ms Sultana said: ‘The demands of the hunger strikers are entirely reasonable. They should not be in prison at all. They pose no threat to the public, have been held well beyond the standard 182-day pre-trial custody limit, and there is no justification for denying them bail.’  

The Your Party MP for Coventry South also claimed the government will have ‘blood on its hands’ if it does not open up conversations with the hunger strikers and their representatives.  

She said: ‘Keir Starmer and David Lammy must act now to save Kamran’s life. They must secure immediate bail for Kamran, Teuta and for all Palestine prisoners being held on remand beyond the pre-trial custody limit. Time is running out. If they do not act swiftly, this Labour government will have yet more blood on its hands.’ 

A spokesperson for Practice Plus Group, which manages healthcare on behalf of the NHS at New Hall, said: ‘We provide compassionate, evidence-based care in prisons and manage any patients who are refusing food in accordance with all the relevant policies and protocols, and in partnership with prison teams and the wider NHS.’ 

Reiterating the government’s position, Lord Timpson, minister of state for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, said: ‘While very concerning, hunger strikes are not a new issue for our prisons. 

‘Over the last five years, we’ve averaged over 200 a year and we have longstanding procedures in place to ensure prisoner safety.  

‘Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation. HMPPS are clear that claims that hospital care is being refused are entirely misleading – they will always be taken when needed and a number of these prisoners have already been treated in hospital. 

‘These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage. 

‘Remand decisions are for independent judges, and lawyers can make representations to the court on behalf of their clients.  

‘Ministers will not meet with them – we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system. 

‘It would be entirely unconstitutional and inappropriate for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.’ 

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