More than 100 medical professionals have sounded the alarm over the health and welfare of Teuta Hoxha, a 28-year-old alleged pro-Palestine activist currently on her twentieth day of a hunger strike in HMP Peterborough. Hoxha, who has been in custody since November 2024, is awaiting trial in April 2026 on charges of breaking into Elbit Systems UK, an Israel-based defense firm in south Gloucestershire, and allegedly causing more than £1 million in damage.
According to The Independent, the group of doctors and healthcare workers issued an urgent appeal to NHS England’s health and justice team, as well as the governor of HMP Peterborough, warning that Hoxha is facing a “medical emergency” due to her critically low blood sugar levels—measured at approximately 2.7 on August 30, 2025—and is at risk of cardiac arrest. In a letter addressed to authorities, the medical professionals stated, “Ms Hoxha has not, as far as we are aware, received the necessary daily clinical monitoring required for patients refusing food and is at risk of sudden electrolyte disturbance, hypoglycaemia and cardiac arrest.”
The letter continued, “After speaking with family, our understanding is that Ms Hoxha had low blood sugar, at around 2.7, for significant periods of time yesterday. This constitutes a medical emergency. Given that Ms Hoxha’s hunger strike is now at a critical stage, we must therefore insist that NHS England exercises its commissioning oversight.” The professionals emphasized that Hoxha’s condition requires immediate intervention, and that she would need “specialist medical oversight” when she resumes eating to prevent further complications.
Hoxha’s hunger strike began as a protest to regain access to recreational activities, her library job, and months of withheld mail, according to her supporters. The situation has become increasingly dire: by August 21, 2025, she weighed just 50 kilograms. In the week leading up to August 31, she began to exhibit worrying symptoms, including a persistent headache, fever, vomiting when attempting to take vitamins, and was reportedly too unwell to attend a scheduled social visit. Her supporters argue that the prison’s response has been inadequate, and that her health is deteriorating rapidly as a result.
Hoxha, who is from East Dulwich in south-east London, described her experience in a statement shared with The Independent: “When the state has taken your house, your job, nearly two years of your life, the natural disposition is to want to hold onto every little bit of autonomy. These past 14 days in HMP Peterborough, I’ve been called a terrorist, heard an officer tell another prisoner that supporting Palestine is terrorism, been accused of being part of a terrorist group and placed on report for saying ‘Free Palestine’. This is about rejecting the attacks on my character that happen with every decision made by the system.”
The charges against Hoxha stem from an incident on August 6, 2024, when she and others allegedly entered Elbit Systems UK as trespassers, armed with sledgehammers and whips. The prosecution claims that the group caused significant property damage exceeding £1 million. Hoxha’s supporters maintain that her actions were motivated by her political beliefs and her support for the Palestinian cause.
In response to the growing public concern, a spokesperson for HMP Peterborough told The Independent, “We cannot provide information about specific individuals, however we can confirm that all prisoners have full access to meals. Any prisoner refusing food receives regular medical assessment and support from clinicians, as well as being offered mental health support. This is in line with policies and regulations applied across the whole prison estate. We can also confirm that we offer a wide range of education and employment opportunities within the prison. While not every opportunity is suitable for all prisoners, there are options for everyone.”
Despite the assurances from the prison, the letter from the medical professionals suggests that the standard of care required for someone on a prolonged hunger strike may not be met. The medics warn that without daily clinical monitoring, individuals like Hoxha are at heightened risk of life-threatening complications, including sudden electrolyte disturbances and hypoglycaemia—conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest without warning.
Hoxha’s case has drawn the attention of activists and human rights advocates, who see her situation as emblematic of the broader challenges faced by political prisoners and those engaged in protest actions. The debate over her treatment has also sparked discussions about the responsibilities of the prison system and the healthcare authorities in safeguarding the well-being of inmates, particularly those engaged in hunger strikes as a form of protest.
The hunger strike itself, a tactic with a long and fraught history in political activism, is often used as a last resort by prisoners seeking to draw attention to grievances or perceived injustices. In Hoxha’s case, her demands center on the restoration of basic privileges—access to recreation, her job in the prison library, and the delivery of mail that has been withheld for months. Supporters argue that these are fundamental rights that should not be withheld, regardless of the nature of the charges she faces.
Medical professionals involved in the appeal have highlighted the unique risks associated with ending a prolonged hunger strike. Refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal shift in fluids and electrolytes that may occur in malnourished patients, requires specialist oversight to ensure that recovery does not trigger new medical emergencies. “When Ms Hoxha starts eating again, she will need specialist medical oversight,” the letter emphasized, underlining the importance of planning for her care both during and after the hunger strike.
Meanwhile, the prison’s statement underscores the complexity of managing hunger strikes within the correctional system. While HMP Peterborough maintains that all prisoners have access to meals and support services, critics argue that the protocols in place may not be sufficient for the specific needs of those refusing food for extended periods. The tension between institutional policy and individual medical necessity is at the heart of the current standoff.
Hoxha’s supporters and the coalition of medical professionals continue to press for intervention from NHS England and the prison authorities, insisting that her current state is unsustainable and potentially life-threatening. With her trial not scheduled until April 2026, the outcome of her protest and the response of authorities could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.
For now, Teuta Hoxha remains in HMP Peterborough, her health precarious and her protest ongoing, as the debate over her care and her cause intensifies both inside and outside the prison walls.
