Three individuals from Palestine Action have concluded their 73-day hunger strike, citing the fulfillment of a key demand as the reason for ending their protest. Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, and Lewie Chiaramello made the announcement today following the denial of a major government contract to defense contractor Elbit Systems UK, a demand that was pivotal to the hunger strikers.
Elbit Systems lost the bid for a £2 billion contract that would have involved training 60,000 British troops annually, as revealed today. Heba Muraisi, aged 31, endured 73 days without food and is currently held at HMP New Hall, over 200 miles away from her loved ones. Her health has significantly deteriorated in recent days, prompting discussions among MPs about potentially relocating her to HMP Bronzefield for closer proximity to her family.
Kamran Ahmed, after 66 days without food, has been hospitalized six times and diagnosed with bradycardia. Expressing disappointment, his sister criticized the government, particularly highlighting Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s background as a former human rights lawyer, stating that he should feel ashamed.
Lewie Chiaramello, who has type 1 diabetes, participated in the hunger strike by abstaining from food every other day. The Mirror reported on Monday that MP Zarah Sultana disclosed Teuta Hoxha’s health concerns after ending her 58-day hunger strike, emphasizing the risks associated with re-feeding syndrome.
Refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition following prolonged fasting, is characterized by an insulin surge that draws essential nutrients into cells, leading to severe complications like hypophosphatemia, arrhythmias, heart failure, respiratory weakness, and neurological issues.
In a statement released by Prisoners for Palestine, Zarah Sultana highlighted Teuta Hoxha’s hospitalization post-hunger strike, underscoring the critical condition she faces due to potential complications from re-feeding syndrome.
Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of Israel’s major arms manufacturer, has faced repeated scrutiny from activists associated with Palestine Action for its involvement in developing armaments used against Palestinians in Gaza. The company, which had vied for a £2 billion military contract to train soldiers for combat, lost to Raytheon UK, a subsidiary of the US defense corporation, as reported by The Times today. An insider from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) shared that Raytheon was deemed the superior choice following a thorough evaluation process, though specific reasons were not disclosed.