Palestine Activist's Thirst Strike Threat Escalates UK Prison Standoff
The final remaining hunger striker for Palestine in British custody has declared he will escalate his protest to include refusing liquids if his demands remain unmet by authorities, with medical specialists warning this drastic action could prove fatal within days.
Manchester Man's Desperate Protest
Umer Khalid, a 22-year-old from Manchester suffering from the rare genetic condition Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, has already abstained from food for fourteen days while receiving essential fluids containing electrolytes, sugars, and salts. However, he has informed Al Jazeera that he will cease all liquid intake from Saturday unless the government engages with his demands.
"The only thing that seems to have any impact, whether that is positive or negative, is drastic action," Khalid stated from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, where he has been held on remand since July. "The strike reflects the severity of this imprisonment. Being in this prison is not living life. Our lives have been paused. The world spins, and we sit in a concrete room."
Comprehensive List of Demands
The campaign group Prisoners for Palestine has outlined an extensive set of requirements to the government, including:
- Ending all censorship of prisoners' mail and communications
- Immediate and unconditional release on bail
- Guaranteeing the right to a fair trial with full disclosure of communications between Elbit Systems and British authorities
- De-proscription of Palestine Action as a "terrorist" organisation
- Permanent closure of all Elbit facilities and subsidiaries across the country
Additional updated demands specifically call for dropping all non-association orders, providing access to activities and educational courses, and transferring fellow hunger striker Heba to HMP Bronzefield. Khalid personally seeks an inquiry into alleged British involvement in Israeli military operations in Gaza and the release of surveillance footage from RAF spy flights over Gaza from April 1, 2024.
Medical Emergency and Previous Health Struggles
Medical professionals have issued stark warnings that individuals undertaking thirst strikes can perish within mere days, creating an urgent timeline for resolution. This concern is particularly acute given Khalid's pre-existing medical condition, which his mother says he managed carefully before imprisonment through balanced nutrition and regular exercise.
This represents Khalid's second hunger strike in recent months, having ended a previous twelve-day protest in December due to deteriorating health. The campaign group has documented what they describe as severe mistreatment during his time at Wormwood Scrubs, including alleged abuse and denial of religious and welfare rights.
Government Response and Partial Concessions
Francesca Nadin, spokesperson for Prisoners for Palestine, condemned what she called "the abdication of responsibility of the British state at all levels" and warned that "Umer's life is in great danger." She further criticised "continued medical neglect of those that have ended their hunger strike" and demanded immediate state intervention.
While Wormwood Scrubs and the Ministry of Justice have declined to comment on Khalid's specific case or demands, the government has made one concession aligned with the group's objectives. Authorities decided against awarding a substantial £2 billion defence contract to Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli arms manufacturer subsidiary repeatedly targeted by Palestine Action activists for supplying weaponry used in Gaza.
Additionally, Commons leader Lucy Powell confirmed she would discuss the potential prison transfer of fellow hunger striker Heba Muraisi with David Lammy, following an urgent appeal from Brent North MP Barry Gardiner. Gardiner expressed hope that Muraisi could be moved to HMP Bronzefield in Surrey to facilitate visits from her disabled mother.
Legal Proceedings and Continued Campaign
Khalid faces charges related to actions at RAF Brize Norton in June, when pro-Palestine activists breached the air base and damaged two military aircraft. His trial is scheduled for January 2027, meaning he could spend approximately eighteen months in custody before facing court proceedings.
The campaign group has written directly to the Home Secretary requesting government representatives meet with Khalid's advocates to safely resolve the hunger strike. They report that Khalid has instructed prison staff not to intervene should he lose consciousness during his protest, underscoring the gravity of his commitment to this course of action.
