A 20-year-old activist on a hunger strike for 46 days was rushed to a UK hospital on Wednesday following intense protests demanding she receive urgent medical care. Qesser Zuhrah, affiliated with the direct-action group Palestine Action, is being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey while awaiting trial.

This critical development escalates a tense standoff between human rights advocates and UK authorities over the lengthy pre-trial detention of several activists. The case throws a harsh spotlight on the use of counter-terrorism legislation against protest groups, a situation that resonates globally and raises fundamental questions about civil liberties for Kenyans and others watching from abroad.

Public Pressure Mounts on Prison Officials

The hospitalization came after protesters, including Member of Parliament Zarah Sultana, held a vigil outside the prison, warning Zuhrah's condition could be life-threatening. The activist group Prisoners for Palestine alleged that an ambulance was initially denied entry into the facility on Tuesday, despite Zuhrah reportedly being unable to stand and in severe pain. An ambulance eventually transported her to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesperson for HMP Bronzefield stated that “all prisoners have full access to healthcare, including attendance at external medical facilities if needed,” but did not comment on the specific case. Zuhrah is one of eight imprisoned activists on hunger strike over their treatment and the UK government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July 2025. Many have been held for over a year without conviction, far exceeding the standard six-month pre-trial custody limit.

According to reports from support groups, Zuhrah had been suffering from a range of severe symptoms, including:

• Severe chest pain radiating to her neck and shoulder
• Breathlessness and dizziness
• Abdominal and lower back pain
• Inability to stand

A Contentious Legal Battle

Palestine Action, founded in 2020, engages in direct action, such as property damage and occupation, to disrupt the UK operations of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. The UK government designated the group a terrorist organization after members vandalized military aircraft at a Royal Air Force base. This move has been heavily criticized by civil liberties groups and the UN Human Rights Chief as a misuse of counter-terrorism laws intended to stifle protest.

The situation remains volatile, with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and over 50 other MPs and peers urging the UK's Justice Secretary to meet with the hunger strikers' lawyers. As Zuhrah receives medical attention, the fundamental conflict over her detention and the right to protest continues, leaving her future, and that of her fellow activists, uncertain.