Three Palestine Action members end 73-day hunger strike

Three Palestine Action hunger strikers have ended their 73-day action after they claimed a key demand was met.

On Wednesday, Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi and Lewie Chiaramello announced their decision to end their hunger strikes as Elbit Systems UK failed to win a government contract.

Prisoners for Palestine said that Elbit Systems had lost out on a £2 billion contract that would have seen them train 60,000 British troops a year.

The campaign group said in a statement: "Our prisoners' hunger strike will be remembered as a landmark moment of pure defiance; an embarrassment for the British state.

"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 Britain for good."

The group had been demanding Palestine Action is de-proscribed and that the UK ends support for companies that send weapons to Israel.

In a statement, Mr Chiaramello, a Type 1 diabetic, said: "We do this because of Palestine, because we've been inspired, because we've been empowered to take action and to try to realise our dreams for a free Palestine, for an emancipated world."

Within the last month, four other detained hunger strikers, Teuta Hoxha, Jon Cink, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, also began re-feeding.

Reports from friends and family of the hunger strikers suggest they have suffered a range of side effects, including significant weight loss, headaches and lightheadedness.

Some have required hospital treatment, including Kamran Ahmed, 28, whose sister told Sky News he suffered a heart complication last week.

Birmingham-based neurologist Dr David Nicholl, who has studied prison hunger strikes, told Sky News that months-long hunger strikes can leave lasting health implications, including neurological and cognitive disorders, dementia, vertigo, sight loss and extreme weakness.

The hunger strikers have been detained in prison on remand while they await trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage carried out in the name of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

By the time they are tried, all will have spent more than a year in custody.

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Prisons minister Lord Timpson has said the prisoners are charged with serious offences and remand decisions are for independent judges.

A judicial review challenge to the proscription has concluded with judges reserving their decision until a later date.

Palestine Action was banned ‍in July, putting it on a par with Islamic State or al Qaeda and making it a crime to ​be a member.

Thousands have since been arrested for holding signs in support of ‍the group, including Greta Thunberg.

(c) Sky News 2026: Three Palestine Action members end 73-day hunger strike