British Prison Hunger Strike Ends After Government Blocks Israeli Arms Firm’s UK Deal
Three activists conclude a prolonged hunger protest as the UK rejects a major military contract for an Israeli defence company, meeting a core demand of the strikers
Three detained British activists on hunger strike have ended their months-long protest inside UK prisons following the government’s decision not to award a substantial military training contract to a United Kingdom subsidiary of an Israeli arms manufacturer.
The activists — Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello — had been refusing food for more than two months while held on remand pending trial on charges linked to alleged direct actions against defence facilities.
Their hunger strike, one of the longest in recent British history, drew widespread concern over deteriorating health and heightened public attention on both their detention and the wider debate over defence industry ties.
Campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said the decision by the government to deny the £2 billion contract to Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of Israel’s largest weapons maker, represented the fulfilment of a key demand of the hunger strikers.
The contract, which would have seen Elbit train tens of thousands of British troops over its term, was instead awarded to a competitor after the Ministry of Defence judged the rival bid stronger.
Prisoners for Palestine characterized the outcome as a significant victory, asserting that the activists’ sacrifices had spotlighted the role of the defence firm and catalysed broader public scrutiny.
Muraisi, who had reached a critical seventy-three days without food, and Ahmed, on day sixty-six, resumed re-feeding under medical supervision, along with Chiaramello, who had fasted intermittently due to a health condition.
Other hunger strikers in the group also began to accept nourishment.
The protest had centred on several demands including immediate bail, deproscription of their activist network, improved prison conditions and an end to government support for companies supplying military equipment linked to conflicts abroad.
Though not all demands were met, the rejection of the contract was widely hailed by supporters as a major breakthrough.
The trials of the activists and related judicial reviews continue, and activists insist their broader campaign remains active as they recover from the protest.
The activists — Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello — had been refusing food for more than two months while held on remand pending trial on charges linked to alleged direct actions against defence facilities.
Their hunger strike, one of the longest in recent British history, drew widespread concern over deteriorating health and heightened public attention on both their detention and the wider debate over defence industry ties.
Campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said the decision by the government to deny the £2 billion contract to Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of Israel’s largest weapons maker, represented the fulfilment of a key demand of the hunger strikers.
The contract, which would have seen Elbit train tens of thousands of British troops over its term, was instead awarded to a competitor after the Ministry of Defence judged the rival bid stronger.
Prisoners for Palestine characterized the outcome as a significant victory, asserting that the activists’ sacrifices had spotlighted the role of the defence firm and catalysed broader public scrutiny.
Muraisi, who had reached a critical seventy-three days without food, and Ahmed, on day sixty-six, resumed re-feeding under medical supervision, along with Chiaramello, who had fasted intermittently due to a health condition.
Other hunger strikers in the group also began to accept nourishment.
The protest had centred on several demands including immediate bail, deproscription of their activist network, improved prison conditions and an end to government support for companies supplying military equipment linked to conflicts abroad.
Though not all demands were met, the rejection of the contract was widely hailed by supporters as a major breakthrough.
The trials of the activists and related judicial reviews continue, and activists insist their broader campaign remains active as they recover from the protest.
