Mohammed Umer Khalid, 22, the last British ‘Palestine Action’ still on hunger strike, has now stopped drinking water, prompting doctors to warn he could die within days.
Khalid, who has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, began his hunger strike in November to protest charges related to direct actions against the Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit, briefly pausing at Christmas due to severe ill health before resuming 13 days ago. On Saturday, he stopped taking water as well as food.
On Sunday, a group of protesters supporting Khalid were arrested outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs, in west London after they breached prison grounds, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.
British police carried out mass arrests of peaceful protesters outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs in support of pro-Palestine activist Mohammed Umer Khalid.
Khalid is on a hunger strike and refusing water to highlight the treatment of UK political prisoners who have taken action in support of Palestine.
Mohammed Umer Khalid, 22, says the move comes after an ongoing hunger strike and what he describes as censorship, denial of bail, and lack of accountability over UK involvement in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
“The only thing that seems to have any impact is drastic action,” Khalid said. “Being in this prison is not living life. This strike reflects the severity of my demands.”
On January 14th, some members of Palestine Action ended their hunger strike after the UK ended a £2 billion contract with Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms company. They included Heba Muraisi, whose hunger strike lasted over 70 days. Her friends and family warned she was near death.
