THREE PALESTINE ACTION ACTIVISTS END HUNGER STRIKES AFTER 73 DAYS

LONDON, Jan 15 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Three Palestine Action activists have ended their hunger strike in prison after 73 days, claiming the United Kingdom (UK) government has met one of their key demands, PA Media/dpa reported.

Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, and Lewie Chiaramello began "re-feeding" on Wednesday, the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said.

The group claimed the government denied Israeli-based defence firm Elbit Systems a £2 billion (US$2.7 billion) contract, which they said was "a key demand of the hunger strikers."

Participants of the hunger strikes are in prison awaiting trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation – charges which they deny and have called to be dropped.

Prisoners for Palestine said that national leaders of prison healthcare met representatives of the hunger strike prisoners on Friday to discuss prison conditions and treatment recommendations.

On their website, they said Umer Khalid is now the last remaining hunger striker.

Prisoners for Palestine said: "While these prisoners end their hunger strike, the resistance has just begun."

"Banning a group and imprisoning our comrades has backfired on the British state, direct action is alive and the people will drive Elbit out of Britain for good."

Chiaramello added: "It is definitely a time for celebration. A time to rejoice and to embrace our joy as revolution and as liberation."

"We do this because of Palestine, because we've been inspired, because we've been empowered to take action and to try to realise our dreams for a free Palestine, for an emancipated world."

They said that alongside the three who ended their strike on Wednesday, Teuta Hoxha, Jon Cink, Qesser Zuhrah, and Amu Gib "have now all begun re-feeding in accordance with health guidelines."

Since the hunger strike began on November 2, several prisoners have been taken to the hospital.

The Press Association has approached the Ministry of Justice for comment.

-- BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa