Three members of the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action are now perilously close to death after nearly two months of refusing food in a UK prison. The men, awaiting trial for allegedly causing over £1 million in damage to an Israeli-owned weapons research site, have seen their health deteriorate rapidly, prompting urgent calls for government intervention.
A Desperate Act of Protest
The situation centres on Kamran Ahmed, a 28-year-old arrested in a dawn raid on 19 November 2024. He is among 24 individuals charged in connection with an attack on a Gloucestershire research centre owned by Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defence contractor. Ahmed, along with two other activists, has now been on a hunger strike for 59 days while held at HMP Pentonville.
In a harrowing account relayed to The Guardian's legal correspondent Haroon Siddique via an intermediary, Ahmed described his deteriorating condition. "I'm worried, but being scared does not mean for one second I am not willing," he stated. "I intend to continue my hunger strike. Perhaps they wait for me to leave in a body bag. The way my chest hurts when I speak, it doesn't feel too far in the near future."
Families Living in Fear
The families of the hunger strikers are gripped by terror, watching as their loved ones' act of resistance threatens to become fatal. Ahmed's sister, Shamina, spoke of the chilling comparisons being made to historical hunger strikes, notably those in Ireland. "When you're seeing those comparisons, yeah, it's deeply scary to think about a thought where your younger brother may not be here, you might outlive him," she told Nosheen Iqbal.
The activists' extreme measure is a protest against their prosecution and imprisonment, which they view as politically motivated for targeting a company they accuse of complicity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Siddique's reporting delves into the government's current response and the chain of events that led the men to this drastic step.
Mounting Pressure for Intervention
With the health of the three men failing fast, pressure is mounting on the UK government to address the crisis. The situation presents a significant ethical and political challenge, balancing legal proceedings against the accused with a duty of care for those in state custody. The prolonged hunger strike raises critical questions about the treatment of activists and the limits of protest within the British judicial system.
As days pass without resolution, the spectre of tragedy looms larger. The standoff at HMP Pentonville has become a focal point for supporters of Palestine Action and human rights observers, who are demanding immediate action to prevent loss of life.
