Palestine Action Hunger Strike Shocks UK Prisons

Palestine Action Hunger Strike Sparks Hospitalisations in UK Prisons

The large-scale hunger strike by Palestine Action-affiliated detainees has led to hospitalisations across five UK prisons, the longest coordinated protest since 1981. Two remand prisoners, Kamran Ahmed, 28, at Pentonville, and Amu Gib, 30, at Bronzefield, have refused food for extended periods amid protests over alleged break-ins at a Bristol Elbit Systems site and an RAF base in Oxfordshire, with the detainees denying burglary or violent disorder charges. Lawyers and family members have urged intervention by Justice Secretary David Lammy, a request that has not been granted, prompting criticism from doctors, MPs, and supporters over perceived media coverage disparities.

Background & Context

Across five UK prisons, six detainees affiliated with Palestine Action are staging protests to oppose what they describe as support for Israel's defense industry, targeting facilities tied to Elbit Systems and a nearby Royal Air Force base, a matter that has featured in israel news discourse.
The two hunger strikers, Kamran Ahmed (28) and Amu Gib (30), are accused of burglary and violent disorder in connection with the protests, though they deny the charges.
Ahmed’s weight and health indicators have declined during the hunger strike, while Gib has suffered significant weight loss and raised concerns about immune system function.
Legal representatives have urged government involvement to mitigate the health crisis, with families seeking a meeting with Justice Secretary David Lammy; thus far, no formal resolution has been reported.
Coverage of the hunger strikes has drawn attention for perceived media disparities, with observers noting less historical parallel in reporting compared to the 1981 Irish hunger strikes led by Bobby Sands.
The incident implicates international actors by naming Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense contractor, and highlights UK-Israel ties within a broader debate about arms production and accountability.
Involved parties include Kamran Ahmed, Amu Gib, the families Shahmina Alam and Nida Jafri, lawyers for the detainees, Elbit Systems, the UK Prison Service, and political figures such as Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Public reaction has included doctors, MPs, and activists calling for government intervention, while Lammy’s office has faced criticism for not agreeing to a meeting.
The situation sits within ongoing debates about protest tactics, defense-industry activism, and how the UK engages with international dynamics surrounding Israel and Palestine.

Key Developments & Timeline

Protests and hunger-action (timeframe unspecified) — Hunger strikes and protest activity are taking place across five UK prisons in connection with Palestine Action-affiliated detainees. The facilities involved include Pentonville Prison in London, HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, the Elbit Systems Bristol site, and a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire. Detainees deny charges related to alleged break-ins, framing a high-profile civil rights dispute. This is described as the largest coordinated hunger strike in UK prisons since 1981, drawing support from doctors, MPs, and activists. Media coverage has been described as limited, a pattern echoed in broader gaza news and israel news cycles that spotlight accountability and humanitarian concerns.
December 12, 2025 — Ahmed’s hunger strike is described as day 42, underscoring serious health risks such as weight loss and potential organ damage. The milestone heightens pressure on authorities and reinforces calls for urgent medical oversight and political intervention by Justice Secretary David Lammy. The detainees’ charges are publicly contested, and supporters emphasize the need for transparent due process while continuing protests at Bristol’s Elbit Systems site within the broader security debate.
Friday before December 22, 2025 — Gib is hospitalised amid mounting health concerns linked to the ongoing hunger strike, adding to the medical emergency landscape surrounding the detainees.
Saturday before December 22, 2025 — Ahmed is hospitalised as health conditions associated with the hunger strike worsen, amplifying calls for medical supervision and political engagement to address detainee welfare.
December 22, 2025 — Reporting on hospitalisations and concerns intensifies; calls for ministerial intervention grow stronger, though Justice Secretary David Lammy has not met with detainees’ representatives as of reporting. The development highlights ongoing tensions between protest rights, security operations, and humanitarian considerations within the UK.
As of December 22, 2025 — Gib remains on hunger strike for more than 50 days, marking the longest coordinated hunger strike among UK detainees in recent memory and sustaining pressure on policymakers. Public support continues from doctors, MPs, and activists, while media coverage remains comparatively limited; the situation remains a focal point in related gaza news and broader regional reporting.

Official Statements & Analysis

Two Palestine Action-affiliated remand prisoners, Kamran Ahmed and Amu Gib, have been hospitalised amid a large-scale hunger strike—the largest coordinated protest in UK prisons since 1981—after Ahmed’s weight has fallen from 74 kg on entry to about 61.5 kg by December 2025 and Gib has lost more than 10 kg, with doctors flagging "Significant risk of organ damage" as ketone levels rise and chest pains are monitored. Medical observers warn of potential thiamine deficiencies and cognitive impairment from prolonged fasting, while lawyers say prison staff have not consistently provided thiamine, and the detainees deny the charges related to alleged break-ins at a Bristol Elbit Systems site and an RAF base in Oxfordshire.

The push for intervention by UK Justice Secretary David Lammy has been rejected, drawing criticism from doctors, MPs, and supporters who note the protest’s scale and media gaps, and ask, "What will it take for the British media to pay attention to the plight of jailed pro-Palestinian activists?" From a risk-management perspective, the episode underscores the need for reliable health monitoring, timely official statements, and careful media reporting, with coverage that addresses health, legal status, and political activism; including terms like Palestine and Gaza news can help ensure accurate, SEO-friendly coverage in searches.

Conclusion

In the UK prison hunger strike case, two Palestine Action-affiliated detainees have been hospitalised amid what is described as the longest coordinated protest in decades, underscoring severe health risks and the complexity of detention during high-profile activism. This situation echoes broader patterns in crisis reporting, with readers encouraged to follow reliable updates and consider how coverage in iran news or israel news can frame public perception of protest and health concerns, rather than providing a definitive narrative. The core takeaway is the need to monitor health indicators and ensure access to essential nutrients like thiamine, amid potential malnutrition and cognitive effects, while seeking timely legal clarity for those involved. Looking ahead, developments may include continued hospitalisation, possible legal proceedings, and shifts in policy or media attention that shape public discourse and responses to protests in detention settings, highlighting the importance of accurate, balanced reporting and safeguarding detainees’ welfare and contributing to lasting policy safeguards.

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