Calls for government action as eight Palestine Action prisoners on hunger strike ‘risk death’
Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn said the eight people are "at serious risk of death", as ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports
Eight Palestine Action activists on hunger strike while in prison awaiting trial are dying, according to a doctor.
Dr James Smith, a qualified emergency physician and lecturer at University College London, said the group, which began the action in protest at being held in custody while awaiting trial, needs specialist medical help.
"The hunger strikers are at imminent risk of irreversible damage to their bodies, and of death," he told ITV News in a statement.
“It is my view, as an NHS doctor, that the complexity of the hunger strikers’ care needs must now be managed with regular specialist input if not continuous monitoring in hospital.”
The eight prisoners on hunger strike are facing charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation this summer – charges, which they deny and have called to be dropped.
On Thursday, two of the group reached day 47 of their protest. A third is on day 46.
One of them, Qesser Zuhrah, collapsed a few nights ago after she found it difficult to walk and experienced sharp pain in her neck, shoulders, and lower abdominal region, her lawyers said, according to The Times.
Zuhrah, who is 20 years old, has been refusing food since November 2.
Zuhrah's close friend, Ella Moulsdale, told ITV News: 'It's very hard to watch her walk right now'
Moulsdale added: "She (Zuhrah) has almost no energy so she walks extremely slowly, with her back hunched in pain. She still wants me to hug her but she can't hug back at all.
"She doesn't have any energy to move her arms up. She'll frequently shut her eyes mid-conversation."
When asked if she is determined to give up her life, Moulsdale said: "That's ultimately her decision to make, and I hope it doesn't have to come to that, because these demands are very, very simple, they are asking the British government to uphold international and national law.
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"They should never have been put in this position."
The comments come amid calls for the government to intervene from doctors and politicians.
Earlier this week, a group of 51 MPs and peers, including 19 Labour MPs, wrote to Justice Secretary David Lammy, urging him to meet the lawyers of the eight prisoners on hunger strike, following concerns that prison guidelines for hunger strikes are not being followed.
Prison Minister Lord James Timpson said on Thursday that he will not be meeting any prisoners or their representatives
"I don't treat any prisoners any differently from any other," Timpson said.
In a letter, Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn said the eight people are "at serious risk of death" amid "regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules".
Zarah Sultana MP said in a post on X: "We demand immediate bail for all remand political prisoners."
Responding to Corbyn's concerns during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said: “He will appreciate there are rules and procedures in place in relation to hunger strikes, and we’re following those rules and procedures.”
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