Prison denies ambulance to Palestine Action hunger striker in ‘life-threatening state’ 

A Palestine Action-affiliated prisoner on hunger strike reported to be in “imminent danger” has been refused an ambulance by British prison staff.

Friends report that Qesser Zuhrah, who has entered day 46 of her food refusal, is in “imminent danger” and no longer able to stand. 

But HMP Bronzefield has refused their repeated requests to call an ambulance. Her friends have repeatedly called the South East Coast Ambulance Service, but were told that if one were sent, the prison would turn it away.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service told Middle East Eye that they would “not send an ambulance to attend a prison at the request of a third party but would instead work with the prison health team to establish if a response is required”.

Ella Moulsdale, Zuhrah’s next of kin, told MEE that she has been on the phone to her since 5pm yesterday, “trying to help her breathe through the pain”.

“She’s in a life-threatening state at the moment,” Moulsdale said.

Zuhrah’s loved ones reported that she is suffering from severe pain in her chest, lower back and around her kidneys. 

They said that vital tests to check her key bodily functions and an ECG (electrocardiogram) test were only performed at around 12:47am.

The nurse who took the tests told her that the results were not concerning, but failed to provide her with them. She reportedly told her that she was likely “not in much pain”.

Supporters suspect an ambulance was sent at around 9pm, as fellow prisoner Jon Cink reported that he saw one arrive at the prison and leave shortly after.

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MP Zarah Sultana, along with friends, supporters and medical professionals maintained a presence outside HMP Bronzefield throughout Wednesday night, demanding the prison call an ambulance.

In a post on Instagram at around 7am, Sultana said that Zuhrah “has been waiting 14 hours for urgent medical care” and that HMP Bronzefield “is refusing to transfer her to hospital”.

She added that she had contacted Justice Secretary David Lammy and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, with no response.

“If she dies, it will be on their hands,” she said. She has refused to leave until an ambulance is called.

Two medical professionals, Dr Olivia Brandon and Dr Ayo Moiett, who are also stationed outside the prison, warned that Zuhrah “needs urgent bloods taken and other urgent scans that the prison does not have the capacity to perform”.

An HMP Bronzefield spokesperson said they could not comment on individual cases.

“However we can confirm that all prisoners have full access to healthcare, including attendance at external medical facilities if needed,” they said, adding that “Any prisoner refusing food receives regular medical assessment and support from clinicians, as well as being offered mental health support”.

The Ministry of Justice did not provide comment by the time of publication.

‘They should be ashamed of themselves’

Zuhrah was previously hospitalised on Friday after the prison’s medical team left her immobile on her cell floor throughout the night, refusing to call her an ambulance until 9am the next day.

She was later discharged at 8:30pm and returned to her cell without a diagnosis or test results. 

Since then, her friends report that she has received “inadequate” doses of electrolytes - a solution of essential minerals - as the prison has run out.

“I lie down with my hand on my heart every night, making sure that my heart is beating normally and that I'm breathing. All of this is just because of a lack of food in my body,” Zuhrah told MEE via an intermediary prior to her deterioration on Monday.

“But mentally…I have no desire for food. I have no desire to eat, I have no desire to end the hunger strike. The only thing that I desire is victory in this and freedom.”

Zuhrah is one of eight Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners who are refusing food over their treatment and the proscription of the direct action group.

The action has drawn comparisons with the 1981 hunger strike by Irish Republican prisoners, led by Bobby Sands in Northern Ireland.

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The prisoners, all accused of involvement with Palestine Action before it was proscribed in July, will have been in jail for over a year by the time they stand trial.

Zuhrah will have spent 17 months awaiting trial by her court date.

Two other hunger strikers, Jon Cink and Amu Gib, were refused a bail application on Friday.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Lammy, as over 50 MPs and peers have written to him requesting urgent intervention. Lammy, who previously denied knowledge of the situation, has either failed to respond to or refused to meet with MPs.

MP Jeremy Corbyn called on Justice Minister Jake Richards to urgently meet with representatives of the hunger strikers in the Commons on Tuesday. When Richards refused, MPs could be heard laughing in the chamber.

“They should be ashamed of themselves,” Corbyn said in a post on X.

Lawyers representing the prisoners wrote to Lammy on Monday, requesting an urgent meeting and warning that their clients’ health could soon deteriorate “beyond any possible recovery” and that there is an “increasing likelihood that they might die”.

The lawyers reported that his response did “not directly address our request”.