Zarah Sultana MP has claimed that the death of a young pro-Palestine activist on hunger strike in prison will be on David Lammy’s hands unless the campaigner is urgently transferred to hospital.
The Your Party MP is with supporters outside HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, where Qesser Zuhrah is said to be gravely ill.
Ms Zuhrah, 20, is on day 46 of the hunger strike as she awaits trial over her alleged involvement in a Palestine Action raid on an plant owned by Elbit Systems, a UK subsidiary of an Israeli defence firm.
Her case has been taken up by the Coventry South MP, who has been outside the prison in Ashfield, Surrey, since the early hours today.
Ms Sultana called on the Justice Secretary to intervene, claiming Ms Zuhrah’s death would be on his hands.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
In a Facebook post this morning, the Coventry South MP said: ‘Qesser Zuhrah has been waiting 14 hours for urgent medical care.
‘HMP Bronzefield is refusing to transfer her to hospital.
‘I have contacted David Lammy and Wes Streeting, urging immediate intervention. There has been no response.
‘She just needs an ambulance. If she dies, it will be on their hands.’
Ms Zuhrah was arrested in a dawn raid on November 19, 2024, by counter-terrorism officers in the third wave of arrests in connection with the August 2024 raid on the Elbit Systems plant in Filton, Bristol.
Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, Teuta Hoxha and Kamran Ahmed have also been on hunger strike for more than a month.
All are denied bail after their alleged involvement in the Palestine Action raids on the arms factory owned by Elbit, Israel’s largest manufacturer for weapons, and RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Ms Zuhrah is no longer able to stand and requires urgent medical attention, according to her supporters.
Ms Sultana has been outside the prison since 1.20am today, demanding the the prisoner be taken to hospital.
The MP said ‘we’re not going anywhere’ until the jail accepts an ambulance transfer ‘for Qesser to get the emergency healthcare she urgently needs.’
In another Facebook post, Ms Zultana said: ‘Let the ambulance into HMP Bronzefield now, @david.lammy
‘Otherwise Qesser Zuhrah is going to die.’
The Prisoners for Palestine campaign group alleged that prison staff ‘have so far refused to entry ambulances and delayed treatment overnight.’
Two doctors, Dr Olivia Brandon and Dr Ayo Moiett, are at the scene, the group said.
Dr Brandon said: ‘Qesser needs urgent hospital assessment.
‘It is not possible to do that inside the prison, as she needs urgent bloods taken and other urgent scans that the prison does not have the capacity to perform.’
Calls to South East Coast Ambulance Service have been logged, but access continues to be denied, according to Prisoners for Palestine.
In a statement via the group, Ms Zuhrah said: ‘They won’t imprison us all, they know if they fill the prisons with activists, we will overpower them from within.
‘So flood the damn streets in your millions.
‘Shut down these factories in your thousands!
‘They can never arrest the resistance in our smiles.’
An HMP Bronzefield spokesperson said: ‘We cannot provide information about specific individuals, however we can confirm that all prisoners have full access to healthcare, including attendance at external medical facilities if needed.
‘Any prisoner refusing food receives regular medical assessment and support from clinicians, as well as being offered mental health support.
‘In addition, all prisoners are managed in line with the policies and procedures governing the entire UK prison estate.
‘This includes specialist multi-agency processes, led by the government, to assess individual risks and security status.
‘However, if any prisoner has specific complaints, we encourage them to raise them directly with the prison, as there are numerous channels available for addressing such concerns.’
Metro has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.