Three pro-Palestinian activists detained in Britain ended their hunger strike on Wednesday, with some of them facing imminent death from the effects of their protest, campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement.
All of the hunger strikers have been charged with offences allegedly carried out on behalf of Palestine Action, before the group was banned and designated a terrorist organisation.
Two are in custody over alleged involvement in a break-in at an Israeli-linked defence firm last year. The other was one of several accused of breaching a military air base in central England and damaging two aircraft in protest against Britain's support for Israel.
Palestine Action was banned in July, putting it on a par with Islamic State or al Qaeda and making it a crime to be a member. Thousands have since been arrested for holding signs in support of the group.
Last month, multiple Palestine Action protesters were hospitalized as some of the activists exceeded 40 days without food, according to social media posts by British officials and media reports.
Hunger strike causes hospitalization in Britain
Of the eight protesters on the hunger strike, five have been hospitalized, according to documents from the activists’ lawyers, which Sky News reviewed.
The hunger strike is thought to be the UK’s biggest since 1981. The protesters were arrested before the UK recognized Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.
Four of the group are accused of playing roles in the break-in to an Israeli-linked defence firm in 2024, and the other four are accused of being involved in an attack on an RAF base in June, where two military jets were damaged.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.