London, UK| A British-Palestinian prisoner affiliated with the direct-action group Palestine Action has entered a life-threatening medical crisis after 46 days without food, with supporters accusing prison authorities of deliberately withholding emergency medical care.
Qesser Zuhrah, 31, is currently being held on remand at HMP Bronzefield, Britain’s largest women’s prison in Surrey, run by the private contractor Sodexo.
Friends and family say she is now unable to stand, is experiencing excruciating chest, lower-back and kidney pain, and is at “imminent risk” of organ failure or sudden cardiac arrest.
“I Was Trying to Help Her Breathe Through the Pain”
Ella Moulsdale, Zuhrah’s designated next-of-kin and close friend, spent an entire night on the phone with the prisoner as her condition rapidly deteriorated.
“I stayed with her until 6 a.m., literally coaching her through breathing because the pain was so intense she could barely inhale,” Moulsdale told Middle East Eye.
“She kept saying ‘I think I’m dying, Ella.’ She is in a life-threatening state right now and the prison still refuses to call an ambulance or transfer her to hospital.”
Supporters allege that healthcare staff at Bronzefield have repeatedly downplayed Zuhrah’s symptoms, claiming her vital signs are “stable” despite her inability to walk or sit upright.
They further claim prison authorities have restricted access to independent doctors and blocked attempts to bring in vital supplements permitted under hunger-strike protocols.
Remand Prisoner, Not Convicted
Zuhrah was arrested in connection with Palestine Action protests targeting British companies accused of complicity in Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Like several other Palestine Action activists currently behind bars, she has not been convicted of any offence and is being held on remand.
The case reached the floor of Parliament on Wednesday when former Labour leader and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn raised the plight of Palestine Action hunger strikers during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“Will the Prime Minister agree to meet representatives of the hunger strikers who are all remand prisoners — not convicted of anything — to discuss their cases and the appalling conditions they are facing?” Corbyn asked.
Downing Street has yet to respond publicly to the request.
Growing Wave of Hunger Strikes
Zuhrah is one of at least four Palestine Action activists currently refusing food in British prisons in protest at what they describe as “political persecution” for non-violent civil disobedience against the arms trade.
The longest-serving hunger striker among them, 71-year-old retired teacher and co-founder of Palestine Action Richard Barnard, is approaching 60 days without food at HMP Thameside and has reportedly lost more than 25 kg.
Human-rights monitors and medical experts warn that after 40–50 days without nutrition, the risk of sudden death from heart arrhythmia, immune collapse or refeeding syndrome rises sharply — risks dramatically heightened when prisoners are denied prompt hospitalisation.
Ministry of Justice Response
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told Middle East Eye: “We take the welfare of all prisoners extremely seriously. Healthcare in prisons is held to the same standard as in the community, and all prisoners on hunger strike receive regular monitoring by healthcare professionals.”
The statement did not address specific allegations that Bronzefield staff have refused to call an ambulance despite visible signs of medical emergency, nor did it confirm whether Zuhrah has been transferred to an external hospital as of Thursday evening.
International Concern Mounts
Amnesty International UK has called for “immediate independent medical assessment” of all Palestine Action prisoners on hunger strike.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society and several UN special rapporteurs have previously criticised the UK for what they term the “criminalisation of solidarity activism”.
As Zuhrah entered her 46th day without food, campaigners outside Bronzefield held an emergency vigil on Thursday night, chanting her name and demanding her immediate transfer to hospital.
“Qesser is prepared to die for her beliefs,” one supporter said outside the prison gates. “But the British state does not have to let her.”
Her condition remains critical.
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