Three Palestine Action activists end UK hunger strike

Three Palestine Action activists in UK prisons, Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, and Lewie Chiaramello, ended their weeks-long hunger strike on January 14, 2026. The activists, protesting their detention and the UK's support for Israel, ceased their action after a subsidiary of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems reportedly failed to secure a $2.69 billion UK government contract to train British soldiers. Prisoners for Palestine, a group supporting the activists, stated the contract denial fulfilled a key demand. The hunger strike, ongoing since November, raised concerns about the activists' health, with relatives warning of potential irreversible harm. The UK Ministry of Defence reportedly awarded the contract to a Raytheon UK-led consortium instead.

Three Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners ended their hunger strike after the UK government decided not to award a £2 billion contract to Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli arms company subsidiary. Four others who had paused their protest chose not to resume it. The prisoners, awaiting trial for protest-related offenses, were demanding the closure of Elbit Systems, a key goal of Palestine Action. Prisoners for Palestine stated that the government's decision, along with a meeting between prison healthcare leaders and prisoner representatives, fulfilled a key demand. While most have begun refeeding, one prisoner, Umar Khalid, is continuing his hunger strike. Prisoners for Palestine highlighted a surge in individuals signing up for direct action against the military-industrial complex following the protest.