Tuesday, January 06, 2026

UK Palestine Action detainee pauses hunger strike as others continue

A UK pro-Gaza activist has paused a 59-day hunger strike after some demands were met, while three other detainees continue fasting over bail and a fair trial.

The New Arab Staff
06 January, 2026


A UK pro-Gaza activist paused her hunger strike after 59 days, as three other detainees continue fasting in protest over bail and fair trial concerns [Getty]

UK pro-Palestine activist Teuta "T" Hoxha has paused her hunger strike on Saturday evening after almost two months of fasting, as three other hunger strikers continue their protest demanding bail and the right to a fair trial.

Hoxha, who was imprisoned in connection with a Palestine Action protest at Elbit Systems' research centre in Filton, ended her strike after 59 days after prison authorities agreed to meet some of her demands, according to Prisoners4Palestine (P4P).

Those demands included the delivery of a backlog of mail that had allegedly been withheld for up to six months, a written apology for the delay, and confirmation of a visit with a member of the Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU) to discuss her individual prison conditions. The JEXU deals with extremism-related cases within the prison system.

Despite pausing her hunger strike, Hoxha’s health remains a concern. P4P saidon Monday that she remains in prison without what it described as adequate medical care, despite repeatedly requesting to be transferred to hospital.

The organisation alleged that HMP Peterborough has refused to send Hoxha to hospital, despite concerns that she is unable to eat safely and is at risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when food is reintroduced after prolonged fasting without medical supervision.


P4P said the situation echoes an earlier case involving hunger striker Qesser Zuhrah, who has since ended her strike, after HMP Bronzefield reportedly refused to call an ambulance to transfer her to hospital in December.

The organisation said that despite the increasingly serious health risks facing the hunger strikers, including the possibility of organ failure, paralysis, brain damage and death, the British government has yet to meet with the prisoners or their representatives.

Three hunger strikers remain. Heba Muraisi, now on day 65 and the longest-serving striker, is reportedly experiencing uncontrollable muscle spasms and breathing difficulties. She is demanding to be transferred back from HMP New Hall to HMP Bronzefield after being moved miles away from her family earlier this year.

Kamran Ahmed, now on day 58 of his hunger strike, has been hospitalised five times. P4P said he was double-cuffed throughout his hospital stays, while medical staff reportedly struggled to insert a cannula because prolonged fasting has caused his veins to shrink and become difficult to access.

Lewie Chiaramello, who has been on hunger strike for 44 days, is being held at HMP Bristol. P4P alleged that prison staff are withholding his diabetes medication and preventing him from accessing his diabetes reader or insulin during visits and while being moved to and from his cell.

Eight members of Palestine Action have been on hunger strike since October after being arrested and charged in connection with break-ins at Elbit Systems facilities and a Royal Air Force facility in 2024.

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