Outside the high-security walls of HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, a sense of urgency and anguish has taken hold. On December 17, 2025, Qesser Zuhrah, a Palestine Action prisoner who had refused food for 46 days, was finally transferred to hospital after her health took a dramatic turn for the worse. The story of Zuhrah and her fellow hunger strikers has become a lightning rod for controversy, protest, and political debate—yet, as many observers note, it has largely unfolded outside the spotlight of mainstream media attention.
According to reports from Middle East Eye, Zuhrah’s condition had become dire. Friends and supporters described her as being in “imminent danger,” unable to stand, and suffering severe pain in her chest and kidneys. Despite repeated pleas, HMP Bronzefield staff initially refused to call an ambulance, even as her next of kin, Ella Moulsdale, stayed on the phone with her, “trying to help her breathe through the pain.” Medical professionals positioned outside the prison warned that Zuhrah needed urgent tests and scans the facility could not provide. “She’s in a life-threatening state at the moment,” Moulsdale said.
Protesters, including MP Zarah Sultana, gathered outside the prison overnight, demanding immediate medical intervention. Sultana posted on social media, “I’m not leaving until HMP Bronzefield accept an ambulance to transfer hunger striker Qesser Zuhrah to hospital for urgent medical care that she desperately needs.” Videos circulated online showed NHS doctor Ayo Moiett being forcibly removed and arrested during the demonstration. The tension on the ground was palpable, with police later confirming three arrests related to the protest, including for suspected assault and criminal damage.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating it would not dispatch an ambulance at the request of a third party but would coordinate with the prison’s health team. Eventually, as pressure mounted, an ambulance did arrive on Wednesday afternoon, and Zuhrah was taken to hospital. According to BBC News, some prisoners, after hospital stays, have been discharged or self-discharged, underscoring the precariousness of their health and the uncertainty surrounding their care.
Zuhrah is not alone in her protest. Amy Gardiner-Gibson, another prisoner at HMP Bronzefield, has also been on hunger strike for 46 days. Other detainees—Heba Muraisi (44 days), Teuta Hoxha (38 days), Kamran Ahmed (37 days), and Lewie Chiaramello (12 days, diabetic)—have joined the protest, refusing food in solidarity. Two additional prisoners, Jon Cink and Umer Khalid, ended their hunger strikes after 41 and 13 days, respectively. An eighth prisoner has participated intermittently due to underlying health conditions.
All are being held on remand, awaiting trial for alleged offences linked to Palestine Action, a direct action group that targeted Israel-linked defense firms. The alleged incidents occurred before the group was banned under terrorism legislation in July. Despite the gravity of the charges—primarily break-ins or criminal damage—supporters and legal experts have pointed out that bail is typically granted in cases more serious than those faced by the detainees. Yet, four of the hunger strikers have now spent over a year in custody, far exceeding the legal pre-trial custody limit of 182 days. By the time Zuhrah stands trial, she will have spent 17 months awaiting her day in court.
The hunger strikers’ demands are clear: immediate bail, an end to the ban on Palestine Action, and the removal of restrictions on their communications while in custody. They also call for the closure of defense firms with links to Israel. Their protest, which began in November, has drawn comparisons to the 1981 Irish Republican hunger strikes led by Bobby Sands—an episode that dominated headlines at the time. By contrast, today’s protest has received “bizarrely little” media attention, as commentator Alastair Campbell noted on social media, despite being the UK’s largest hunger strike since 1981.
The political response has been both swift and polarizing. Nearly 50 MPs and peers, including MP Shockat Adam and MP Zarah Sultana, have signed letters urging Justice Secretary David Lammy to meet directly with the hunger strikers’ lawyers. During Prime Minister’s Questions on December 17, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer to address “regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules with respect to these hunger strikes.” Corbyn emphasized, “They are all remand prisoners, not convicted of anything.” Starmer replied, “There are rules and procedures in place in relation to hunger strikes, and we’re following those rules and procedures.”
Justice Minister Jake Richards, responding to Corbyn’s earlier questions, declined to meet with the group’s lawyers, stating that the Ministry of Justice had “robust and proper guidance and procedures” for such scenarios. “I am satisfied, and the ministry is satisfied, that those procedures are being enacted and we’ll continue to keep it under review,” Richards said. The Ministry of Justice echoed this stance, assuring that prisoners’ wellbeing is “continually assessed” and that “appropriate action is taken, including hospital treatment where required.” HMP Bronzefield stated that all prisoners have full access to healthcare, including external medical facilities if needed, and that any prisoner refusing food receives regular medical and mental health assessments.
Yet, for many observers, these official reassurances ring hollow. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has called for urgent dialogue between Lammy and the prisoners’ legal teams, warning that “every day of delay heightens the risk to those striking for justice in Palestine and civil liberties at home.” Mutahir Ahmed, ICJP’s Head of Legal, said, “The UK government’s repeated rejection of requests for dialogue with the defendants’ legal team demonstrates a troubling disregard for due process and human life.” Lawyers representing the prisoners have echoed these concerns, warning that their clients’ health could soon deteriorate “beyond any possible recovery” and that there is an “increasing likelihood that they might die.”
The protests outside HMP Bronzefield have not been without incident. According to BBC News, police were called after protesters attempted to gain entry to restricted areas, resulting in scuffles and injuries. A member of prison staff was assaulted, and protesters blocked the road, delaying medical assistance to the injured officer. The Ministry of Justice condemned the escalation, stating, “The escalation of the protest at HMP Bronzefield is completely unacceptable. While we support the right to protest, it is deeply concerning that a member of staff has now been injured and protesters are gaining access to staff entrances – putting hard-working staff and security at risk.”
As the hunger strike enters a critical phase, the question remains: will the government’s adherence to protocol be enough to prevent tragedy, or will continued inaction lead to irreversible consequences? For the prisoners and their supporters, the fight is not just for their own freedom, but for the right to protest and for due process under the law. For now, the world is watching—if only belatedly.
