{"id":314096,"date":"2025-12-26T15:15:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T20:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=314096"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:25:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:25:20","slug":"un-experts-urge-uk-to-protect-lives-and-rights-of-pro-palestinian-detainees-on-hunger-strike","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/un-experts-urge-uk-to-protect-lives-and-rights-of-pro-palestinian-detainees-on-hunger-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"UN experts urge UK to protect lives and rights of pro-Palestinian detainees on hunger strike"},"content":{"rendered":"

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26 December 2025<\/p>\n

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GENEVA<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 UN experts* today expressed grave concern for the lives and fundamental rights of eight pro-Palestinian activists imprisoned in the United Kingdom, who have been on indefinite hunger strike since 2 November.<\/p>\n

\u201cHunger strike is often a measure of last resort by people who believe that their rights to protest and effective remedy have been exhausted,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n

As they enter the second month of their strike, the health of the pro-Palestinian detainees has reportedly deteriorated significantly, placing them at critical risk of serious complications, including organ failure, irreversible neurological damage, cardiac arrhythmias and death.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe State\u2019s duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished,\u201d the experts said. \u201cAuthorities must ensure timely access to emergency and hospital care when clinically indicated, refrain from actions that may amount to pressure or retaliation, and respect medical ethics.\u201d<\/p>\n

The expert recalled that respect for the right to health is applicable to everyone, including persons deprived of their liberty. They stressed that States must respect individual autonomy, ensure continuous, independent medical monitoring, provide accurate information about health risks, and take all necessary steps to protect life and prevent irreversible harm, without resorting to coercive or punitive measures.<\/p>\n

They also expressed concerns regarding the treatment of the hunger strikers, including reported delays in accessing medical care, use of excessive restraint during hospital treatment, denial of contact with family members and legal counsel, and lack of consistent independent medical oversight, particularly for detainees with serious pre-existing health conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese reports raise serious questions about compliance with international human rights law and standards, including obligations to protect life and prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n

They have previously raised\u00a0concerns<\/a><\/em>\u00a0with the UK Government regarding the application of counter-terrorism and security frameworks to acts of political protest that are not genuinely terrorist according to international standards, and\u00a0warned<\/a><\/em>\u00a0against the criminalisation of conduct that falls within the protected exercise of the rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression, and the suppression of legitimate political dissent, including advocacy related to Palestine.<\/p>\n

The experts have also expressed serious concern as to the\u00a0overbreadth<\/a><\/em>\u00a0of the definition of terrorism under UK law, the\u00a0proscription<\/a><\/em>\u00a0of Palestine Action\u00a0under<\/a><\/em>\u00a0the Terrorism Act 2000, and the subsequent\u00a0mass arrests<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and criminal charges, including terrorism-related offenses, brought against individuals for alleged support for Palestine Action.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese hunger strikes must be understood within the broader context of restrictions on pro-Palestinian activism in the UK,\u201d the experts said, noting that the detainees are held in connection with protest-related activity.<\/p>\n

They urged the United Kingdom to immediately guarantee appropriate healthcare for all hunger strikers, and engage in meaningful dialogue and action to address not only the claims of the protestors, but also underlying rights violations, and an end to the repression of Palestine activism.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreventable deaths in custody are never acceptable. The State bears full responsibility for the lives and wellbeing of those it detains,\u201d the experts said. \u201cUrgent action is required now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The experts stand ready to engage constructively with the UK Government and will continue to monitor the situation closely.<\/p>\n

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To learn more about Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and the Question of Palestine, click here to visit the dedicated webpage.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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*The experts:<\/strong><\/p>\n