UK (Washington Insider) - 8 Palestine Action activists in UK prisons, including Qesser Zuhrah and Amy Gardiner-Gibson, face life-threatening hunger strikes of up to 46 days; lawyers urge Justice Secretary David Lammy to act.
As Arab News reported, 8 activists from Palestine Action in the UK are on a hunger strike that is putting their lives at risk. Lawyers warn that without urgent action from Justice Secretary David Lammy, the activists could die in prison. 2 of the protesters have now gone 46 days without food, while a 3rd has been fasting for 45 days, reaching a critical stage.
Amy Gardiner-Gibson, a 30-year-old, shows cognitive decline and low red and white blood cell counts. One activist has muscular dystrophy, and a diabetic participant has been fasting for 13 days. None of the 8 have been convicted of any crime. They are being held on remand over alleged break-ins at Israeli arms companies and military sites as part of their protest.
Among the activists, Qesser Zuhrah, a 20-year-old, is in critical condition. She collapsed in her cell and was left on the floor for hours. She had severe pain in her neck, shoulders, and lower abdomen and could barely walk.
What threat do Palestinian hunger strikers in UK Prisons face without Government action?
The hunger strike has sparked protests outside the prison. Demonstrators called for urgent medical care for Qesser Zuhrah. Zarah Sultana attended the protest. The rally became violent, and 3 people were arrested. Lawyers say the activists’ lives are at extreme risk without government intervention.
Lawyers from Imran Khan & Partners have said that the 8 Palestine Action activists in UK prisons are taking part in the largest coordinated hunger strike in the country since 1981. That year, 10 Irish Republican Army prisoners in Northern Ireland died after refusing food.
The legal firm said:
"All have lost a significant percentage of their body weight, and, with the hunger strike in its second month, are reaching a critical stage and nearing the point of no return."
Despite pressure from Members of Parliament, Justice Secretary David Lammy has refused to meet the activists’ lawyers. So far, 58 MPs have signed an early day motion expressing “extreme concern” about the health and treatment of the hunger strikers.
The families of the activists plan to hold a press conference on Thursday, Dec 18, 2025, to raise awareness of the situation. Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, said last week that Lammy’s refusal to meet MP John McDonnell was “totally unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament that the government is following existing rules and procedures for dealing with hunger strikes. He also noted that the alleged offences by the activists occurred before Palestine Action was listed as a terrorist organisation in July 2025.
The Ministry of Justice said:
“We continually assess prisoners' wellbeing and will always take the appropriate action, including taking prisoners to hospital if they are assessed as needing treatment by a medical professional."
Imran Khan & Partners' letter to Lammy, seen by The Times, said:
“You are uniquely placed in that as a senior government minister with oversight of His Majesty's prison service, you can bring about a resolution of the situation, such that the increasing deterioration of our clients' health does not lead to their death.’’
"We are at a loss as to why you would not want to do this. We make clear that our request for a meeting is in an effort to seek to resolve the immediate situation and prevent the loss oflife. Unless you tell us, we cannot see any reason why you would not want to engage in this process."
Palestine Action, a Direct Action protest organization from the UK that was established in 2020, focuses its activism efforts on protesting British Military and arms supplies as part of its opposition to British support of the Israeli war in Gaza.
The organisation took part in several high-profile actions, including a break-in on August 6, 2024, at the Elbit Systems UK factory in Filton, Bristol. Activists at this break-in gained access to the facility after defeating its physical security and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage.
Subsequently, during the June and July 2025 sessions of Parliament, British MPs passed motions by overwhelming margins to list Palestine Action as an organization/proscribed terrorist group under the UK Terrorism Act 2000. The bans were implemented after other protests and incidents, including allegations of equipment being vandalised at sites like RAF Brize Norton and police ministers asserting that the protests exceeded lawful demonstration.