In a bold move to draw attention to their cause, a group of Palestine Action protesters have ended their hunger strike outside Pentonville Prison in London. The three-month-long protest, which saw Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello refuse food, aimed to pressure the UK government to take action against the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.
The hunger strike’s conclusion, announced on the 73rd day, marks a significant milestone, matching the record set by Irish republican prisoner Kieran Doherty in 1981. While the protesters did not achieve all of their demands, such as the immediate release of their imprisoned comrades, they can claim a partial victory.
One of the key demands was to prevent Elbit Systems UK from securing a £2 billion defence contract with the Ministry of Defence. This appears to have been achieved, with the government’s decision not to award the lucrative contract to the Israeli firm. Francesca Nadin of Prisoners for Palestine stated that the “campaigning, whether it be the hunger strike, whether it be Defend Our Juries, whether it be the judicial review [challenging proscription of Palestine Action], all had an impact on that.”
The hunger strike’s impact extended beyond this specific contract, as it drew global attention to the protesters’ cause and the wider issues surrounding the UK’s ties with Elbit Systems. Congresswoman Rachida Tlaib’s public support and intervention by UN experts helped amplify the protesters’ message, while the prison authorities’ attempts to censor communications were partially thwarted.
Shahmina Alam, the sister of hunger striker Kamran Ahmed, expressed relief that her brother had decided to end his action, stating, “For the first time I woke up today not afraid.” However, she acknowledged the ongoing concerns over the re-feeding process, which can be precarious.
While the protesters did not achieve all of their demands, such as the immediate release of their imprisoned comrades and the de-proscription of Palestine Action, they have succeeded in raising awareness and sparking a wider conversation about the UK’s relationship with the Israeli arms industry. As Francesca Nadin noted, “Demands were kind of secondary to all that, we know what the government’s like.”
The hunger strikers’ sacrifice and determination have undoubtedly left a lasting impact, and their actions have the potential to inspire further activism and scrutiny of the UK’s defence industry ties. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the long-term outcomes of this protest.