Keir Starmer is prepared to let Palestine hunger strikers die
‘Show some humanity before it is too late,’ Lammy told as Palestine Action hunger striker rushed to hospital
Shut The System activists cover Justice Secretary David Lammy’s office in graffitiActivists graffiti the 8 hunger strikers’ demands across the Deputy PM’s north London office
A PALESTINE ACTION hunger striker was rushed to hospital some 24 hours after she reported needing urgent medical attention on her 46th day without food at HMP Bronzefield today.
Supporters including Zarah Sultana MP, doctors and trade unionists demanded immediate hospitalisation and independent medical assessment for 20-year-old Qesser Zuhrah for more than 12 hours before she was transferred out of the site by ambulance.
The Your Party MP said that Ms Zuhrah had been “refused an ambulance by the prison. She is critically ill and at immediate risk of dying.”
Online footage showed protesters chanting “let the doctor go” as a man was arrested around the time an ambulance left the scene at about 2.30pm.
Ms Zuhrah has been on remand at HMP Bronzefield awaiting trial over an August 2024 break-in at an Israeli defence firm near Bristol by the direct action group.
She is among dozens of Palestine Action activists who have been detained well over the six-month custody threshold after it was proscribed in July.
Ms Zuhrah was reportedly unable to stand and began suffering “severe” pain that required urgent medical attention from Tuesday afternoon.
Campaigners for her and other hunger strikers said that repeated calls for emergency care were made, but “prison staff have so far refused entry to ambulances and delayed treatment overnight.”
The demonstration was held outside the prison from 1.20am and the demands of the eight hunger strikers were graffitied across Mr Lammy’s north London office by Shut the System Activists.
The statement included a call for an end to media censorship, immediate bail, the right to a fair trial, the de-proscription of Palestine Action and to close all sites of Israel’s main arms supplier, Elbit Systems.
South East Coast Ambulance Service said that it did not comment on individual cases, and referred queries to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which was contacted for comment.
PM Sir Keir Starmer was meanwhile accused of “a lack of humanity toward people at serious risk of death” by Jeremy Corbyn MP.
The former Labour leader asked him if the MoJ would meet lawyers for the hunger strikers in the Commons.
Mr Corbyn told Sir Keir that “these are all prisoners on remand, they’re not convicted of anything. A further prisoner has been taken to hospital, as have others.
“Many people are very concerned about the regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules in respect of these hunger strikers.
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Diane Abbott, Zarah Sultana, Ayoub Khan, John McDonnell and Lord Hendy KC were among those who signed the open letter telling Mr Lammy to take “responsibility and show some humanity before it is too late.”
Mr Lammy’s office was targeted by protesters from Shut The System today, who graffitied their demands in red on the north London building.
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Amnesty International UK’s Kerry Moscogiuri said: “This cruel misuse of terrorism legislation is a shameful moment for the UK government.
“It must urgently do everything in its power to bring an end to this terrible situation.”
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Original article at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/show-some-humanity-it-too-late-lammy-told-palestine-action-hunger-striker-rushed-hospital
Gunmen attack Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, killing at least 12
Police cordon off an area at Bondi Beach after a reported shooting in Sydney, December 14, 2025GUNMEN attacked a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, today [yesterday], killing at least 12 people in an “evil, anti-semitic, terrorist attack.”
The shooting began at about 6.47pm local time at the Archer Park area of the beach, where hundreds had gathered for the “Chanukah by the Sea” event marking the start of the eight-day Jewish festival.
Police said the attackers, armed with what they described as “long guns,” opened fire on the crowd as the beach was packed with families, swimmers and tourists.
At least 29 people were wounded, including two police officers, New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
One gunman was shot dead by police at the scene, while a second was arrested and remained in a critical condition in hospital.
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Green Party leader Zack Polanski, Britain’s only Jewish political leader, said that he was “thinking of everyone in Australia and those around the world in the Jewish Community who know this fear and loss.”
“Our community is once again mourning,” he said in a statement on his way to a Chanukah event.
Your Party’s Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn were among those sending messages of solidarity with the Jewish community online, with Mr Corbyn saying: “In moments like these, we must remember our common humanity, reaffirm our opposition to hatred, and stand up for the rights of everyone to worship in freedom, safety and peace.”
Campaign group Jewish Voice for Liberation shared the Jewish Council of Australia’s message of “horror” at the shooting, adding: “Whatever the extreme level of violence suffered by civilians in Gaza, it is no excuse for the murder of uninvolved civilians thousands of miles away.”
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Morning Star Editorial: The Palestine Action hunger strikers face years behind bars without trial. Bail them now
Police remove a campaigner taking part in a Defend Our Juries protest in support of Palestine Action outside the Home Office, London, November 24, 2025Left MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana and John McDonnell are doing the right thing in highlighting the case of the young pro-Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in British jails.
Seven prisoners associated with solidarity actions for Palestine have now been on hunger strike for several weeks. They are being locked up on remand, with their trial likely 18 months away. This is the largest co-ordinated political hunger strike since the H-Blocks in 1981.
This is the grossest travesty of justice. The whole labour movement should be demanding that these young people, who are not charged with any violence against persons, should be freed.
Guilty of nothing under the law, they should be given bail immediately. Their continued detention on remand is an act of state vindictiveness.
Should any of them come to lasting harm, it will be on the account of Justice Secretary David Lammy as well as the Prime Minister. They will not be forgiven.
