Two Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners have paused their hunger strikes due to deteriorating health but have vowed to resume the protest next year.
Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib have temporarily resumed eating, according to a statement released by Prisoners for Palestine group on Tuesday evening.
The pair were among eight prisoners on hunger strike facing charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation in July, charges they deny and have called to be dropped.
Zuhrah decided to pause her hunger strike after 48 days while Gib began eating after 49 days. Both detainees are being held on remand at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.
It comes after allegations that Zuhrah was refused an ambulance for more than 18 hours at HMP Bronzefield, which led to a protest outside the prison last week, which the Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana attended. Ministry of Justice officials have previously disputed claims of mistreatment.
Four other detainees, Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha and Lewie Chiaramello, remain on hunger strike, Prisoners for Palestine said.
Zuhrah, 20, said on Tuesday: “To our government, do not release your breath, because we will certainly return to battle you with our empty stomachs in the New Year, when you have shamefully returned from your blood-soaked break, to the theatrics of your ‘democracy’.
“Our demands however remain inescapable, and this pause is your chance to meet them, to get it right, to stop arming and aiding this genocide, otherwise you will force us to return to confront you with our breaths, which will be far more disastrous and dangerous than this first time.”
Gib, 30, said: “We have never trusted the government with our lives, and we will not start now. There will be no turkey dinner and break in the Zionist programme of genocide.
“We are committed to the resistance of their script, not until Christmas, but for the rest of our lives … we will be the ones to decide how we give our lives to justice and liberation.”
The remaining hunger strikers released a new set of demands on Tuesday, including that Muraisi, who is being held at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, be transferred back to HMP Bronzefield where she was initially detained.
A spokesperson for Prisoners for Palestine said: “The remaining four will continue to refuse food on the basis of the five demands, as well as specifying their demands to include the end of all non association orders between prisoners; Heba’s transfer back to HMP Bronzefield; and the same access to all courses and activities as sentenced prisoners.
“Non association orders are used to further isolate prisoners from each other despite being in the same prison; just as Heba has been moved across the country, away from her family and friends in London.
“Due to the extended period of time on remand, well over the usual six month legal limit, it is only fair that the prisoners are able to access the same activities as everyone else.”
Earlier this month, Jon Cink and Umer Khalid ended their 41-day and 13-day hunger strikes for health reasons. The pair were admitted to hospital and have since been discharged back to prison.
Lord Timpson, minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, said in a statement: “While very concerning, hunger strikes are not a new issue for our prisons. Over the last five years, we’ve averaged over 200 a year and we have longstanding procedures in place to ensure prisoner safety.
“Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation. HM Prison and Probation Service are clear that claims that hospital care is being refused are entirely misleading – they will always be taken when needed and a number of these prisoners have already been treated in hospital.
“These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage. Remand decisions are for independent judges, and lawyers can make representations to the court on behalf of their clients.
“Ministers will not meet with them – we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system. It would be entirely unconstitutional and inappropriate for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.”
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