Eight prisoners have been on hunger strike while awaiting trial for alleged offences relating to Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation. What do we know about the activists and their demands?

Who are the activists on hunger strike?

Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Amu Gib, 30, who are being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, were the first two prisoners to go on hunger strike on 2 November. They were joined the following day by Heba Muraisi, 31, who is at HMP New Hall. The group also includes Teuta Hoxha, 29, Kamran Ahmed, 28, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, who is refusing food every other day because he has diabetes.

Earlier in December, Jon Cink and Umer Khalid ended their 41-day and 13-day hunger strikes for health reasons, Prisoners For Palestine said. The pair were admitted to hospital and have since been discharged back to prison.

Cink, Khalid, Chiaramello and Gib are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, where it is alleged that two military jets were damaged. They are not due to stand trial until 2027.

Zuhrah, Muraisi, Hoxha and Ahmed are accused of playing roles in the break-in at the Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit systems in 2024. They are due to go on trial in May next year at the earliest.

They deny the charges.

What are their demands?

They include immediate bail, ending the ban on Palestine Action and stopping restrictions on their communications. The activists have also called for Elbit to be shut down.

Lawyers representing the group have criticised David Lammy, the deputy prime minister and justice secretary, for refusing to meet them, claiming he had failed to comply with the Ministry of Justice’s own policy on handling hunger strikes.

How has the government responded?

Keir Starmer has previously said “rules and procedures” were being followed after he faced questions in the Commons about why his ministers had refused to meet with representatives of those striking.

The prisons minister, James Timpson, said the service was “very experienced” at dealing with hunger strikes and has “robust and working” systems in place. He added that the Prison Service would “not be meeting” any prisoners or their representatives.

The Commons leader, Alan Campbell, has said the government was “not trying to break the bodies” of the protesters.

How are they being treated by the prison service?

The Prison Service cannot force feed a prisoner who refuses food or fluids.

But the representatives of some of the hunger strikers have alleged a lack of, or late, medical observations or treatment in some instances. It was claimed that an ambulance was called for Zuhrah only after she spent a night asking to be taken to the hospital. It was also alleged that her vital signs had been taken only intermittently and she had received inadequate electrolytes since returning from hospital, reportedly because of HMP Bronzefield running out.

In response to the claims, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson previously said: “Prisoners’ wellbeing is continually assessed, and appropriate action is taken, including hospital treatment where required. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has assured ministers that all cases of prisoner food refusal are being managed in accordance with the relevant policy, and with appropriate medical assessment and support – consistent with prisoner rights.”

A HMP Bronzefield spokesperson added: “Any prisoner refusing food receives regular medical assessment and support from clinicians, as well as being offered mental health support.”

How serious are the health risks?

Seven prisoners have been taken to hospital since starting their hunger strikes. Five have been admitted more than once.

Dr James Smith, an emergency physician and lecturer at University College London, who is in contact with some of the activists and their families, told a press conference on Thursday that some of the hunger strikers were slowly dying.

“After approximately three weeks, the body has exhausted fat stores and begins to break down muscle and organ tissue in order to generate enough energy simply to maintain essential bodily functions,” he said. “Thereafter, there is a risk that grows with every passing day of sudden, severe and unpredictable bodily dysfunction.”