Three hunger strikers in the UK's Palestine Action protest movement have ended their strike after the government refused to award a £2 billion contract to an Israeli arms company subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK. The decision marks a significant victory for the prisoners, who had been demanding the shutdown of the company.
The three protesters, Kamran Ahmed, Lewie Chiaramello, and Teuta Hoxha, will now begin refeeding under health guidelines. Their fellow protester, Amu Gib, had paused his strike, but has also ended it. Only Umar Khalid remains on hunger strike, having resumed his protest after pausing it.
The group's demands went beyond the contract with Elbit Systems UK. They sought better prison conditions, including the transfer of Heba Muraisi to a more suitable facility in Surrey, close to her family and friends. Prisoners for Palestine also called for an end to censorship on prisoners' communications, which they say has been a major issue during their hunger strike.
The decision not to award the contract was seen as a significant shift by officials at the Ministry of Defence. The group, however, believes it will be more effective in bringing about change when action is taken by "the people" rather than just the government.
According to Prisoners for Palestine, the movement has gained momentum since their five-year campaign began, with over 500 new activists signing up to take direct action against Israel. They point out that four Israeli weapons factories were shut down during this period, and claim that Elbit Systems is now "living on stolen time" before it too will be brought down.
The hunger strike has raised concerns about the welfare of the protesters, with some fearing for their lives due to the extreme nature of the protest. However, the group remains resolute, stating that they have never trusted the government with their lives and will not start now. They vow to take matters into their own hands in pursuit of justice and liberation.
The three protesters, Kamran Ahmed, Lewie Chiaramello, and Teuta Hoxha, will now begin refeeding under health guidelines. Their fellow protester, Amu Gib, had paused his strike, but has also ended it. Only Umar Khalid remains on hunger strike, having resumed his protest after pausing it.
The group's demands went beyond the contract with Elbit Systems UK. They sought better prison conditions, including the transfer of Heba Muraisi to a more suitable facility in Surrey, close to her family and friends. Prisoners for Palestine also called for an end to censorship on prisoners' communications, which they say has been a major issue during their hunger strike.
The decision not to award the contract was seen as a significant shift by officials at the Ministry of Defence. The group, however, believes it will be more effective in bringing about change when action is taken by "the people" rather than just the government.
According to Prisoners for Palestine, the movement has gained momentum since their five-year campaign began, with over 500 new activists signing up to take direct action against Israel. They point out that four Israeli weapons factories were shut down during this period, and claim that Elbit Systems is now "living on stolen time" before it too will be brought down.
The hunger strike has raised concerns about the welfare of the protesters, with some fearing for their lives due to the extreme nature of the protest. However, the group remains resolute, stating that they have never trusted the government with their lives and will not start now. They vow to take matters into their own hands in pursuit of justice and liberation.
I gotta say, this is a major win for the Prisoners for Palestine movement! 
The fact that the UK gov won't award Elbit Systems that £2 billion contract is huge, and it's awesome to see Kamran, Lewie, Teuta, Amu & Umar holding out for more than just that. 
Their demands for better prison conditions and an end to censorship on prisoners' communications are so on point! 
It shows they're not just fighting for a contract, but for real change.
And it's clear that the protest has raised awareness and given people a sense of agency. I mean, who needs gov to tell you what's right when you've got a community coming together for justice? 
these hunger strikers are literally fighting for a £2 billion contract but its so much more than that... they want change, justice & freedom for the ppl of palestine 
i mean, the gov is trying to do something good by not awarding the contract but its not enough. these activists are taking matters into their own hands because they know the gov wont make a difference on its own 
cant wait to see what happens next 
. The fact that the government refused to award the contract to Elbit Systems UK is a major win, but the group knows it's not enough 
. I can only imagine how tough this must be for them, but they're fighting for something so important - justice and liberation for Palestinians 
.
. Keep fighting, Prisoners for Palestine! 
anyway i gotta respect their dedication and courage. and can we talk about how amazing its going to be when the people take action and demand change? im so ready for that revolution 
So, I guess it's a win for the hunger strikers, but like, isn't this just a fancy way of saying "the gov couldn't be bothered to award the contract"? 
Still, gotta give them credit for keeping the momentum going with all these new activists joining up. 500+ people taking direct action against Israel is no joke! 
I know it's not that easy when you're dealing with a system like this... 
Anyway, at least the prisoners are safe now, and I'm sure Elbit Systems UK will be keeping its fingers crossed that someone slips up so they can get back to "living on stolen time". 
I'm so hyped for these hunger strikers! Their determination & bravery are truly inspiring 
These guys have been through so much already, but they're still fighting on & refusing to back down 
. But seriously, I think this is a great example of how grassroots activism can make a difference. These guys have been at it for years, and now the government is finally listening.
. I hope he gets some medical attention soon. And I wish they could just get their demands met without having to resort to extreme measures like this... but I guess that's just not how politics works sometimes.
. I'm definitely rooting for them, hoping that this momentum will lead to real change 
. Like, can't we just get some basic human rights and prison conditions sorted out already? 
Still, I gotta give 'em props for not giving up - they're making their voices heard and inspiring a whole new wave of activists 
Guess we'll just have to keep an eye on it 
. but at the same time, u gotta feel 4 the protesters still stuck in their own fight... Umar Khalid is still on strike & they're sayin we need more than just gov action 2 bring change 
. I mean, who really benefits from the contract anyway? Is it just Elbit Systems UK or like, the whole Israeli gov't? 
! Did they at least have access to basic necessities while they were on strike?