Palestine Hunger Striker ‘Struggling to Speak’ After 57 Days Without Food
One of the prisoners on hunger strike in protest over Palestine-related activism is reportedly in critical condition after going 57 days without food.
Heba Muraisi, who is among eight prisoners held on remand over their alleged involvement in direct-action protests linked to Palestine Action, is said to be losing the ability to follow conversations and speak clearly, according to a statement released by her support group.
The hunger strike began in November, with three prisoners still continuing. Muraisi is now the longest-serving participant in the protest.
In a phone call recorded on the 53rd day of her strike and released by Prisoners for Palestine, Muraisi described the severe physical toll the prolonged fast has taken on her body. She said she feels weaker each day and is experiencing constant body pain, dizziness, headaches, nausea and bruising from repeated blood tests.
She also revealed that even lying down has become painful and that she increasingly struggles to form sentences or maintain conversations.
“Even though I’m immensely proud of my body’s resilience, I can feel myself getting weaker as each day passes,” she said.
While four prisoners have since ended their hunger strikes due to health concerns, another detainee with Type 1 diabetes is continuing on alternate days. Muraisi said that despite her physical deterioration, she remains mentally strong and determined.
She is currently being held at HMP New Hall after being transferred from HMP Bronzefield, a move campaigners argue has made family visits more difficult due to the distance from her home in Brent.
Muraisi was arrested in November 2024 over her alleged role in a raid on Elbit Systems in Bristol, an Israeli weapons manufacturer, which reportedly caused more than £1 million in damage. Her trial is not expected to begin until June next year, meaning she could spend close to two years in custody without conviction, a key issue being protested by the hunger strikers.
Medical experts have warned that the prisoners are now in a highly unpredictable and dangerous phase. An emergency doctor supporting the protesters cautioned that prolonged starvation can cause long-term damage to vital organs, including the kidneys, liver, heart and muscles, and that sudden, fatal complications remain a serious risk.
Other prisoners still reported to be participating in the hunger strike include Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello, who is fasting on alternate days for medical reasons. Several others have paused their involvement.
The protest is believed to be the largest hunger strike of its kind in decades, drawing comparisons to similar actions in the early 1980s that resulted in multiple deaths.
