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Palestine Action activists who have been on hunger strike People are dying for months while awaiting trial over alleged vandalism or criminal damage, according to one doctor.
Dr James Smith, a qualified emergency physician who is a lecturer at University College London, said the group needed specialist medical help, as politicians urged the government to intervene Some of the eight prisoners who started the action to protest against their detention while awaiting trial have been taken to hospital.
Four people in the group are accused of playing a role in the 2024 breach of a defense firm linked to Israel and will go on trial as soon as May next year.
The other four are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, where it is alleged they caused millions of pounds worth of damage to two military jets.
The alleged crimes occurred before The group was banned under terrorism laws in July. Which made membership of or support for it a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The hunger strikers deny the charges but have been refused bail. On Thursday, family members of the protesters held a press conference, which was supported by the MPs jeremy corbyn and John McDonnell, where he sat in front of a board of seven names, Listing the duration of his hunger strike.
At a press conference Dr Smith said: “Hunger strikers are dying.” He added: “We are concerned by accounts of poor monitoring and treatment within the prison system.
“Last week more than 200 members of the British Medical Association wrote to the BMA to issue a warning.”
It came after Sir Keir Starmer was asked at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday whether he would arrange for the Ministry of Justice to meet with the hunger strikers’ lawyers regarding their treatment.
He was challenged by Mr Corbyn, who claimed there had been “routine breaches of prison conditions and prison rules”.
Sir Keir said: “He will appreciate that there are rules and procedures in place regarding hunger strikes, and we are following those rules and procedures.”
According to the International Center for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), six of the eight initial hunger strikers are still continuing their strike. One is described as attending protests intermittently due to an underlying health condition.
The Independent has given a description of the workers on hunger strike:
kaiser venus
Saffron Zuhrah, 20, is charged with aggravated theft, violent disorder and criminal damage after allegedly breaking into the site of Israeli-linked Elbit Systems UK in Filton, Bristol.
In recent days, protesters, including MP Zarah Sultana, gathered at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey to demand he be taken to hospital.
On Wednesday, the 46th day of his hunger strike, he was taken to the hospital.
amu gib
This is the 47th day of Amu Gib’s hunger strike. He has been charged with conspiracy to destroy property and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for a purpose detrimental to the security and/or interests of the UK in relation to the alleged intrusion at RAF Brize Norton.
Last week, Mr Corbyn wrote on Instagram that he had visited Gibb in prison and urged him to grant bail.
Heba Muraisi
Heba Murresi started her protest a day later and is on her 46th day of strike. He has been charged in connection with the alleged incident in Filton.
broken hoxha
Tuta Hoxha has been charged with criminal damage and aggravated theft in relation to alleged actions at Elbit Systems. This is the 40th day of their strike.
Her sister Rahma Hoxha said at a press conference: “The longer this goes on the scarier it will be for her and my family, my sister should not even be in jail.
“The prison guards called her a terrorist, even though she was on remand.
“She said it feels like the government is trying to bury them alive and let them go quietly.”
Kamran Ahmed
Charged with aggravated theft, criminal damage and violent disorder in relation to the alleged Elbit break-in, Kamran Ahmed has been on hunger strike for 39 days.
A letter reported by Sky News said Ahmed had been taken to hospital twice since November.
His sister Shahmina Alam told reporters at a press conference: “Our family has never felt so worried, never received such scary phone calls as we are receiving now.
“His heart is failing and his pulse is slowing down, he is losing half a kilogram of weight every day.”
He added, “The justice system is hanging on a very thin thread.”
Muhammad Umer Khalid and Jon Cink
BBC News reported on Wednesday that supporters had said John Sink and Muhammad Omar Khalid had ended their hunger strike after 41 days and 13 days respectively.
Both have been charged in connection with the alleged vandalism at Bridge Norton.
They will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing on January 16, after appearing at the Old Bailey via video link on 12 December.
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson said: “We are very experienced in dealing with hunger strikes. Unfortunately, over the last five years we have averaged more than 200 hunger strike incidents every year and the processes we have in place are well established and they work very well – prisons work with our NHS partners every day to make sure our systems are strong and working – and they are.
“I have been very clear. I do not treat any prisoner differently from others. That is why we will not meet any prisoners or their representatives. We have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and an independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system.”