Alleged Palestine Action activists in jail awaiting trial to go on hunger strike
Five members accused of involvement in vandalism of two planes at RAF Brize Norton causing £7 million of damage
Some 29 people accused of supporting Palestine Action in alleged attacks on an Israel-based defence firm’s UK site and two planes at RAF Brize Norton have pledged to go on hunger strike in protest against being held in prison while they await trial.
Campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said the activists will begin their hunger strike on November 2, claiming the treatment of those in custody has deteriorated since Palestine Action was proscribed as a terror group in July.
Prisoners for Palestine said five of its members being held are accused of being involved in the vandalism of two planes at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, causing £7 million of damage.
Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the incident, and for breaking into Elbit Systems in Bristol last August.
Eight accused of being involved in the defence firm incident, allegedly involving sledgehammers and whips, are due to stand trial at Woolwich Crown Court from November 17.
Prisoners for Palestine said six activists were arrested at the scene last summer, and a further 18 were arrested later.
The group said it delivered the letter to the Home Office on Monday and said those going on hunger strike, some of whom have been in custody for more than a year, are demanding that they are released on bail and the terror-related charges against them are dropped.
A spokesperson for the group said: “This is a historic moment.
“The government has left the prisoners with no other option but to hunger strike for their freedom and justice.”
Dr Asim Qureshi, research director at campaign group Cage, who are helping negotiate the hunger strike, said: “This hunger strike, if it goes ahead, will be the first of its kind in at least two decades.
“It brings into sharp focus the violence of the carceral system in the UK, a violence we often associate with places afar.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We strongly reject these allegations – we treat all prisoners fairly and equally, regardless of background circumstances.
“Palestine Action has conducted an escalating campaign involving criminal damage to Britain’s national security infrastructure, intimidation and alleged violence. That activity puts the safety and security of the public at risk.”
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