Fears for Palestinian Action hunger striker after 70 days

A Palestinian Action protester is “deteriorating” after 70 days on a hunger strike while in prison awaiting trial, her friends have warned.

- JAMES C. REYNOLDS

Heba Muraisi, 31, is struggling to breathe and suffering from headaches and lightheadedness after turning down food while being held at HMP New Hall in Yorkshire over alleged break-ins on behalf of the group.

After 70 days, she is one of three activists still on strike over demands including immediate bail, with doctors warning they face permanent injury or death if they continue.

Ms Muraisi's friend Amareen Afzal told Sky News following a visit on Tuesday: “I think she’s lost over 10kg now. She looks very different to the photographs that you'll see of her.”

She said that Ms Muraisi “struggles to sleep on one side of her body because it’s too painful”, and sometimes feels so lightheaded that she gets nauseous.

“She’s aware that she’s deteriorating and physically dying, you know, that her body could fail her at any moment,” she added.