Two pro-Palestinian activists ended their hunger strike on Wednesday, marking the end of what is believed to be one of the longest actions in British history.
Heba Muraishi refused food for 73 days and Kamran Ahmed refused food for 66 days.
Muraishi, 31, and Ahmed, 28, began a hunger strike late last year as part of a group of eight imprisoned pro-Palestinian activists protesting the long pre-trial detention and crackdown on political opposition linked to the Gaza war.
A third hunger striker, Lewi Chiaramero, who fasts every other day due to diabetes, ended his protest after 46 days.
Campaign group Palestine Prisoners said everyone has now started re-feeding in accordance with health guidelines. Muraishi and Ahmed are currently hospitalized, family and friends told CNN.
The two were arrested in November 2024 as members of the so-called “Filton 24”, an activist group associated with the now-banned group Palestine Action. They are accused of breaking into and destroying a British research and development facility owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, near Filton, west of London. Mr Muraishi and Mr Ahmed are charged with robbery, criminal damage and conspiracy. They deny the charges and are awaiting trial.
The Palestinian action aims to disrupt the operations of arms manufacturers linked to the Israeli government. It was banned as a terrorist group last summer, with the then British Home Secretary claiming the move was necessary to protect national security. Rights groups and civil rights campaigners have accused the government of gross overreach in suppressing legitimate protests in the country.
Campaign group Prisoners for Palestine announced late on Wednesday that Muraishi and Ahmed had ended their hunger strike following the British government’s decision not to award Elbit Systems UK a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) contract with the British Ministry of Defence.
One of the hunger strikers’ main demands was for Elbit Systems to close its 16 locations in the UK.
The hunger strikers also called for immediate bail, the lifting of what they called communications restrictions, an end to the government’s ban on Palestinian actions, and a fair trial. They claim the government is withholding relevant documents related to their cases.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told CNN earlier this week that Muraishi and Ahmed will receive a fair trial, and said the ministry held a health care meeting last week with health officials and the prisoners’ lawyers.
“They face serious charges, but no government has been able to agree to their requests. Many of their requests relate to ongoing legal proceedings, including immediate bail, and this is a matter for an independent judge,” the spokesperson said.
Muraishi had also hoped to be moved closer to family in London after being moved to a prison hundreds of miles away from his disabled and seriously ill mother last year, but will now be moved to HMP Bronzefield west of the capital, Prisoners for Palestine announced late Wednesday.
The group added that further “victories” had been achieved throughout the hunger strike.
CNN has reached out to the Ministry of Justice for updated comment.
