Palestine Action-linked hunger striker hospitalised for fifth time

An activist held on remand on charges linked to the direct action group Palestine Action in UK prison has been hospitalised for the fifth time after going on hunger strike for more than 50 days.

Kamran Ahmed is one of eight pro-Palestine activists who began a hunger strike last year after Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, failed to respond to a letter setting out concerns over their treatment.

The group’s demands include immediate bail, an end to interference with their personal communications in prison, and the de-proscription of Palestine Action, which accuses the UK government of complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Ahmed’s sister, Shamina Alam, confirmed that his health has deteriorated in recent days.

“Kamran told me he had sores where blood has been taken in the past. His body is struggling to heal,” said Alam.

“We also think he’s caught the flu or a cold, which can be a dangerous combination with low neutrophils.”

Late on Thursday, a small crowd gathered outside a hospital in central London, where Ahmed was being treated after the family was unable to reach him for several hours.

The loss of contact between loved ones and the hunger striker is a common trend, with hospitals giving direct updates to the prison instead of the next of kin, according to medical experts helping the hunger strikers' loved ones. 

Middle East Eye understands that Ahmed was returned to his prison cell after spending two hours in the hospital.

His hospitalisation comes as fellow hunger striker Heba Muraisi - who has refused food for 60 days- told friends she is losing the ability to “form sentences, and struggling to maintain conversation”.

In a statement published on behalf of Muraisi, the activist said she had “bruising on her arm” and endured “constant body aches”.

Concerns by UN experts

Last week, seven UN human rights experts also warned the UK government that the eight pro-Palestine activists on hunger strike risk organ failure and death.

The seven experts who work independently of each other said the activist's decision to refuse food reflected a “measure of last resort” taken by people who believe “their right to protest and effect remedy has been exhausted”.

Among the UN experts who signed the statement are Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, and Gina Romero, UN special rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly.

“The State's duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished,” the experts said.

“Authorities must ensure timely access to emergency and hospital care when clinically indicated, refrain from actions that may amount to pressure or retaliation, and respect medical ethics.”

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The experts said they had received reports of delayed medical care, excessive restraint during hospital treatment, and restrictions on contact with families and lawyers. Such allegations raise questions about compliance with international human rights standards, they said.

They also linked the protests to broader restrictions on pro-Palestine activism in the UK, including the use of counterterrorism powers and the proscription of Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.

Four of the eight hunger strikers have paused their strike, while four others vowed to continue.

The UN call for urgent action came after lawyers representing the prisoners on hunger strike said the UK's Justice Secretary David Lammy refused their request to meet for urgent negotiations.

The lawyers are now launching legal action against the UK government for refusing to meet with them.

The eight detainees are being held on remand in five prisons over their alleged involvement in break-ins at factories owned by Israeli arms company Elbit Systems and a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire.

They deny the charges.