Three Palestine Action protesters have ended their hunger strike, marking a significant victory in their campaign against the Israeli arms company Elbit Systems UK. The government's decision not to award a £2 billion contract to Elbit Systems UK was a key demand of the protesters, who feared for the lives of those participating in the strike. The hunger strike, led by 31-year-old Heba Muraisi, lasted 73 days, mirroring the longest hunger strike of an Irish republican hunger striker, Kieran Doherty, who died in 1981. The strike's demands included shutting down Elbit Systems and improving prison conditions. The Ministry of Defence's decision to deny the contract is seen as a shift in policy, as Elbit Systems has won over 10 public contracts since 2012. This victory comes amidst a broader movement, with 500 people signing up for direct action against the military-industrial complex, and four Israeli weapons factories shut down during the five-year campaign. The hunger strike also led to the transfer of Muraisi back to HMP Bronzefield, closer to her family, and a meeting between Hoxha and the head of the joint extremism unit, addressing the censorship of prisoners' communications. The protesters' defiance has been hailed as a landmark moment, exposing Britain's political prisoners and inspiring hundreds to take direct action in their footsteps.
