Two remand prisoners waiting to go on trial for alleged offences relating to Palestine Action have ended a hunger strike protest – but five more are said to be continuing to refuse food.<\/p>\n
The detainees, in various prisons, have made a series of demands including calling for the ban on Palestine Action to be lifted and for a defence firm with links to Israel to be shut down.<\/p>\n
The two longest-protesting detainees have been refusing food for 45 days according to supporters – a claim that has not been disputed by officials.<\/p>\n
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said “rules and procedures” were being followed in relation to the hunger strike.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for the group have repeatedly written to Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy asking for a meeting, saying there was a “real and increasingly likely potential” that their clients would die as a result of their protest.<\/p>\n
Fifty-one MPs and peers have also written to Lammy asking him to meet the lawyers.<\/p>\n
The protests, which began in November, involve people who have all been charged with offences relating to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action, charges that are denied. <\/p>\n
The alleged incidents all occurred before Palestine Action was banned under terrorism legislation – but their trials are not taking place before next year.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the detainees confirmed to BBC News on Wednesday that Jon Cink and Umer Khalid had both ended their hunger strike after 41 days and 13 days respectively.<\/p>\n
Qesser Zuhrah and Amy Gardiner-Gibson are said to have each been refusing food for 45 days. Heba Muraisi began her protest a day later. Teuta Hoxha is said to have refused for 38 days and Kamran Ahmed 37 days. <\/p>\n
An eighth prisoner is described by supporters of intermittently joining the protest but then breaking it, due to an underlying health condition.<\/p>\n
Some of the group have had periods in hospital – but in each case they have been discharged or have self-discharged. <\/p>\n