From Gaza to London: A Joint Fight for Justice and Freedom

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Inside UK prisons, where cold walls and strict rules rule, six prisoners associated with the group Palestine Action have gone on hunger strike. The prisoners, who are in pre-trial detention, have been charged with criminal damage and trespassing at an Israeli company, El Beit factory near Bristol, and a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire.

Last year, they spray-painted two UK military aircraft in protest at the country’s role in supporting the Zionist regime. All six have denied the charges and have been in prison awaiting trial for more than a year. Now, with the long-running hunger strike, there are dire warnings from hundreds of UK health professionals that they are at immediate risk of death. Two of them were taken to the hospital last week, and their families are complaining about prison conditions and government neglect.

The prisoners’ hunger strike is rooted in deep frustration over Israel’s war in Gaza. They say the deaths of more than 70,000 Palestinians in the war are a moral failure by Western governments. Even after an October ceasefire, Israel has carried out more than 700 attacks on Gaza, killing at least 400 people.

The prisoners, from the Action for Palestine group, call the attacks part of a “genocide” and describe their detention as a show of solidarity with Palestinians who have been abandoned by the world. In a voicemail from prison, inmate Amu Gib, who has lost more than 10 kilograms and whose health indicators are below normal, says: “A society that imprisons its conscience is a dead society.”

The words, like a flame in the darkness, reveal the depth of their pain. Another protester is Teuta Hoxha, who is on his 40th day of hunger strike and is suffering from low blood pressure, headaches, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. His 17-year-old sister, Rahma, told Sky News that Teuta feels weak and nauseous and is even prepared to die. Two of the longest-standing strikers have not eaten for 45 days, a claim their supporters confirm, while officials have not denied.

The prisoners’ demands are fivefold, each revealing a layer of inequality in the justice system. First, they are seeking immediate interim release on bail, as they have been in custody for more than a year, while UK law sets a pre-trial detention limit of six months.

Second, the right to a fair trial, which they say includes the release of documents relating to the “persistent harassment and persecution” of the group’s activists. Third, they are demanding the lifting of the restrictions on communications and the denial of access to their letters, calls, and books. Fourth, the lifting of the ban on the Palestine Action Group as a “terrorist” group; and fifth, the closure of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, which has factories in the UK.

These demands are not only personal but also political, and are aimed at challenging the UK’s role in supporting Israel. The prisoners say their actions, such as the spray-painting of planes, were peaceful protests against arms exports to Israel, which are responsible for the killing of innocent people in Gaza.

The legality of their prolonged detention is one of the most contentious aspects of the case. The UK's Protection of Defendants Act limits pre-trial detention to six months to avoid unnecessary delays. However, the six have been in prison for more than a year and are expected to remain in prison until their trial, which could take more than another year.

This flagrant violation of the law has sparked public outrage. More than 20,000 people have signed a petition by the group Avaaz calling on Justice Secretary David Lammy to intervene. More than 50 MPs are calling for the Justice Secretary to step in and meet with the prisoners’ lawyers.

Labour MP John McDonnell told Al Jazeera: “We are really concerned about what is happening. Why is the government not stepping in? Why is this not being addressed? It is a very dangerous situation.” On 18 December, more than 800 doctors warned the Justice Secretary that young people in the UK could die in prison without serving their sentences if the issue is not addressed. They said twice-daily assessments, daily blood tests, and 24-hour medical cover were needed.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for HMP Peterborough, where Teuta Hoxha is being held, said that all prisoners are managed in line with government policies and procedures and that they can use the channels available if they have a complaint. But families and supporters say these channels are ineffective, and censorship continues.

The strike is reminiscent of similar historical events. In 1981, members of the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland went on hunger strike to restore their political status. The strike leader, Bobby Sands, who was elected as an MP from prison, died after 66 days, and the strike became a turning point in the nationalist movement. In total, 12 people died.

Today, some survivors of that strike, such as Tommy McKearney, who went on strike for 53 days, and Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, a former MP, support the prisoners of Palestine Action. They attended a forum in London in early December and shared their experiences.

Ultimately, the hunger strike of the six prisoners is not just an individual protest, but a symbol of a global struggle for justice. As the world watches the war in Gaza, these people are shouting with their frail bodies that the silence of governments is deadly. If the UK government does not intervene, we may see historical tragedies repeated. This story is a reminder that the conscience of society cannot remain imprisoned; it must be set free to build a more just world.