In a deeply moving audio message recorded from prison, a Palestine hunger striker has issued a public plea alongside a "bittersweet" birthday wish to a fellow protester now in hospital, as their collective fast reaches a perilous 48th day.
A Birthday Message from Behind Bars
Amu Gib delivered the birthday tribute to Qesser Zuhrah on December 18. The audio was released by the campaign group Prisoners4Palestine. Zuhrah was reportedly taken to hospital two days prior, on December 16, after complaining of chest pains and breathlessness at HMP Bronzefield.
In the message, Gib spoke of a yearning for simple, domestic freedom that remains out of reach. "I want to be able to wake up with a cake, maybe with Heba's vape in it for a candle, bring you hot chocolate, and drink it with all your friends in a morning session of fresh air," they said.
The weight of their incarceration was palpable as Gib added: "Qesser, know how much it hurts to only be able to offer this in prison, when in my heart, and for the rest of my life, there's nothing I wouldn't give you."
A Plea to the Public and Failing Health
While not presenting new demands, Gib directed a stark appeal to those outside the prison walls. "I have something to ask from you all on the outside," they stated, noting it was "sadly, no more or less than what most other prisoners here have."
Reflecting on the broader context of their detention, Gib argued that Zuhrah "would not need this if we hadn't created a society that imprisons its conscience." The message concluded with a slender hope for change: "It is my slimmest, my bittersweet hope that this can be the start of a better year, from Bronzefield to Palestine."
The health of the six hunger strikers is now deteriorating rapidly. The group, which includes Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello, are all protesting from within British jails. Their demands centre on immediate bail, fair trials, and the closure of UK sites operated by the Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.
Longest UK Hunger Strike Since the 1981 IRA Protests
This protest has now become the longest hunger strike witnessed in the UK since the 1981 IRA protests, in which ten men died. Bobby Sands, the most famous of those strikers, died after 66 days without food. With some participants now approaching 50 days without sustenance, medical concerns are escalating.
The prisoners, part of groups known as the Filton 24 and Brize Norton 4, are awaiting trial for direct action protests against Elbit Systems. They face severe delays in the justice system; Amu Gib is not expected to stand trial until 2027.
Their legal team, Imran Khan and Partners, has warned Foreign Secretary David Lammy that "young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence." Despite growing pressure from public figures and musicians, the Ministry of Justice has described the protest as "unacceptable," maintaining that prisoner health is managed according to policy.
As each hour passes, the situation moves closer to a potential point of no return, with the strikers' vow to "push to the very end" hanging in the balance.
