UK
Last two Palestine Action hunger strikers end protest as Elbit is denied UK defence contract
Prisoners for Palestine – the group campaigning for the jailed hunger strikers – claimed victory
January 15, 2026 15:31
Prisoners for Palestine – the group campaigning for the jailed hunger strikers – claimed victory
January 15, 2026 15:31Two Palestine Action hunger strikers awaiting trial on charges relating to a break-in at a factory owned by Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems in August 2024 have ended their prison protest after 73 days.
It comes amid reports that Elbit has lost its fight to win a £2 billion contract to overhaul British Army training.
Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed had been refusing food until several demands were met, including ending the proscription of Palestine Action, which was deemed a terrorist organisation last July.
Prisoners for Palestine, the group that has campaigned on behalf of the hunger strikers, claimed a victory over Elbit.
It said the prisoners’ actions would be “remembered as a landmark moment of pure defiance; an embarrassment for the British state.
“Banning a group and imprisoning our comrades has backfired on the British state, direct action is alive and the people will drive Elbit out of Britain for good.”
On Saturday, it was claimed that Muraisi's health was declining fast.
“I think she’s lost over 10kg now. She looks very different from the photographs that you’ll see of her,” Muraisi’s friend, Amareen Afzal, told Sky News after visiting her.
Ahmed was also in poor health and taken to hospital last Tuesday because of heart issues. He had reportedly lost 16kg.
The hunger strikers had also demanded better prison treatment and threatened the Ministry of Defence (MoJ) with legal action over the matter in December.
According to the BBC, neither ministers nor MoJ officials agreed to meet the protesters.
The MoJ denied allegations of medical mistreatment and the Care Quality Commission, a watchdog, said it was not investigating.
Four other jailed Palestine Action activists – Teuta Hoxha, Jon Cink, Qesser Zuhrah and Amy Gardiner-Gibson, also known as Amu Gib – ended their hunger strikes at the end of December.
All six are now receiving medical treatment.
The JC has contacted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) whether the hunger strikes had any impact on its decision not to award Elbit the army training contract.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.