Two pro-Palestinian activists have brought their hunger strikes to an end, concluding what campaigners believe to be among the longest hunger strikes in British history.
Heba Muraisi, 31, stopped refusing food after 73 days, while Kamran Ahmed, 28, ended his hunger strike after 66 days. The pair began their protest late last year as part of a wider group of eight imprisoned pro-Palestinian activists challenging their prolonged pre-trial detention and what they describe as an escalating crackdown on political dissent linked to the war in Gaza.
A third protester, Lewie Chiaramello, who has diabetes and therefore fasted on alternating days, ended his hunger strike after 46 days.
Campaign organization Prisoners for Palestine said all three activists have now begun carefully reintroducing food in line with medical guidance. Muraisi and Ahmed are currently being treated in hospital, according to family members and friends who spoke to CNN.
Arrests Linked to the “Filton 24”
Muraisi and Ahmed were arrested in November 2024 as part of the group known as the “Filton 24.” The activists are linked to Palestine Action, a campaign organization that was banned by the UK government last summer.
The group is accused of breaking into and vandalising a research and development facility near Filton, west of London, owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer. Muraisi and Ahmed face charges including burglary, criminal damage, and conspiracy. Both deny all charges and remain in custody awaiting trial.
Palestine Action describes its mission as disrupting the activities of arms manufacturers connected to the Israeli state. The organisation was proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK government, a move defended by the then-home secretary as essential for national security. Human rights organisations and civil liberties groups have criticised the decision, arguing it represents a serious overreach aimed at suppressing lawful protest.
Reasons for Ending the Hunger Strike
According to Prisoners for Palestine, Muraisi and Ahmed ended their hunger strikes following the British government’s decision not to award Elbit Systems UK a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) defence contract from the Ministry of Defence.
One of the hunger strikers’ central demands was the closure of Elbit Systems’ 16 operational sites across the UK.
They were also calling for:
- Immediate release on bail
- An end to what they say are restrictions on their communications
- The reversal of the ban on Palestine Action
- A fair trial
The activists allege that the government has withheld key documents relevant to their legal case.
Health Concerns and Official Response
Ahmed was recently admitted to hospital after developing a heart complication, according to his sister. Images shared by his family showed him receiving medical care.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told US that both Muraisi and Ahmed would receive a fair trial and said officials had arranged a meeting between healthcare professionals and the prisoners’ legal representatives to discuss their medical needs.
“They face serious charges, and no government could agree to their demands, many of which relate to ongoing legal proceedings, including immediate bail, which is a matter for independent judges,” the spokesperson said.
Muraisi had also been seeking a transfer closer to her family in London after being moved last year to a prison hundreds of miles away from her disabled and seriously ill mother. Prisoners for Palestine said on Wednesday night that she will now be transferred back to HMP Bronzefield, located west of London.
The campaign group added that several additional “victories” were secured over the course of the hunger strike, though it did not specify further details.
