Jailed Palestine Action members ended their 73 day hunger strike on Wednesday, claiming victory, though only marginal demands were met, with key issues left unresolved.
Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, and Lewie Chiaramello announced the end of the hunger strike, which was started by seven activists jailed for participation in a campaign of political violence and vandalism against Israeli tied entities such as Elbit System UK.
The strikers said that the decision followed the loss of Israeli subsidiary defense firm Elbit Systems UK losing to Raytheon UK in a competitive contract for training British troops, though there was little indication the Palestine Action had influenced the decision. Raytheon was a better candidate, a source told the Times, which had also published in August allegations that Elbit UK had breached business appointment rules.
Original demands by Palestine Action had been to reject the contract, but also to shut down all Elbit and subsidiary sites in the UK. Strikers had also demanded the release of all government records related to Elbit UK exports over the last five years, and records of all meetings between Israeli and British officials, UK law enforcement, and Elbit representatives. According to a statement by the protesters, information was disclosed to an independent researcher.
Some Palestine action members in jail received packages and mail, including books on topics of Gaza and feminism, however the activist group had demanded unrestricted letters, phone calls, and statements.
A later demand to move Heba Muraisi to another facility is also reportedly in process.
Demands for bail for all Palestine Action members awaiting trial and deproscription of the organization as a terrorist group were not met, but the strikers saw victory in the amount of supporters that had pledged to join them in taking "direct action" against the "genocidal military-industrial complex."
"Elbit Systems is living on stolen time – we will see it shut down for good, not because of the government, but because of the people," said Prisoners for Palestine, the campaign group associated with Palestine Action members.
Hunger strikes commemorates Balfour Declaration anniversary
The strike had begun on November 2 to commemorate the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, with activists Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib refusing food. They were later joined by Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, Tueta Hoxha, and Kamran Ahmed. Muhammad Umer Khalid joined the strike on December 4.
Cink ended his hunger strike on December 16, and Gib and Zuhrah ended their strike on December 19. The strikers reportedly faced health challenges because of their strike, including Hoxha and Ahmed being hospitalized on December 2. Their campaign was raised by MPs in the British parliament, including by independent Jeremy Corbyn, who praised the activists on Wednesday for "remarkable resilience in support of the Palestinian people."
"They have shamed our government but inspired a movement with their bravery and moral purpose," said Corbyn. "We know this is not the end. We will keep campaigning to end all arms sales to Israel, and we will never give up until justice has been achieved for the people of Palestine."
Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement that "the resistance has just begun."
"Banning a group and imprisoning our comrades has backfired on the British state, direct action is alive and the people will drive Elbit out of Britian [sic] for good," said the campaign.
Hoxha, Ahmed, Zuhrah, and Muraisi were among the 24 people arrested last November in connection with an August 2024 attack on Elbit Systems UK’s South Gloucestershire Horizon facility. Activists had rammed through the Filton facility’s fence and entrance with a prison van before smashing equipment, machinery, and building fixtures. Armed with sledgehammers, axes, whips, and other homemade weapons, the activists wounded two officers and a security guard in the attack.
Cink, Gib, and Khalid were arrested in relation to a June raid on the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire, according to Reuters, putting paint into the engines of Voyager aircraft and further damaging them with crowbars.
Cink, Chiaramello, and Gib all pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday, appearing at court via videolink from prison, according to Reuters.