Khaberni - British prisons are currently witnessing a hunger strike by prisoners associated with the "Palestine Action" movement, protesting against their detention conditions and demanding justice. Reports indicate that the lives of these prisoners are increasingly at risk, as two of them have reached 48 days without food.
This was reported in an article by the hunger striker Amo Gib, published in The Guardian, where he listed the charges against them, their demands, and their conditions in prison, noting that the prisoners suffer from repression inside the prison, including false orders prohibiting contact, manipulation of their visits, and restrictions on some activities due to their support for Palestine.
Prisoners' Demands
Amo Gib listed their demands, which include: shutting down weapon factories that supply weapons to Israel, lifting the ban on the "Palestine Action" movement, ending the mistreatment of prisoners in detention, their immediate release on bail, and providing fair trials.
The Guardian also published an editorial calling for the cancellation of the ban on the "Palestine Action" movement, improving the detention conditions of prisoners, providing fair trials, and reconsidering the length of detention periods awaiting trial.
The British newspaper stated in its editorial that in 1981, prisoners from the Irish Republican Army and other Irish republicans carried out a hunger strike in Northern Ireland to reclaim their political status, and 10 of them died, including Bobby Sands, who was elected as a member of the British Parliament before his death.
Then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher took a publicly firm stance. However, over time, the government's stance changed unofficially and began seeking a way out due to public pressure and significantly changing public opinion.
Condition of the Prisoners
Amo Gib stated in the article that the health condition of prisoners engaging in the strike is deteriorating significantly, as Qaisra Zahra, aged 20, was transferred to the hospital after collapsing in prison, and some prisoners have been refusing food for more than 40 days. Another diabetic prisoner eats only once every two days, and two of the prisoners ended their protest after being transferred to the hospital.
The British government has been criticized for its delay in responding to the prisoners' demands. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, described Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister David Lammy's failure to respond to MPs' requests for information about the hunger strikers as "absolutely unacceptable." The government confirmed that it faces about 200 hunger strikes annually and handles them with expertise.
Striking Contrast
The Guardian's editorial highlighted the stark contradiction between the government's suppressive enthusiasm in this case and its inaction and indifference towards the lives of tens of thousands in Gaza. The newspaper called for reconsidering the decision to ban the "Palestine Action" movement, improving the detention conditions, providing fair trials, and reviewing the length of detention periods pending trial.
It stated that the British government must respond to the prisoners' demands and take urgent steps to achieve justice and prevent a humanitarian disaster, given the severe deterioration in the health of the prisoners.
The Guardian emphasized that the current situation highlights the urgent need to improve justice and penal systems to be fairer and more effective, adding that time is running out and the health of the prisoners is rapidly deteriorating, necessitating urgent action to achieve justice.
