A woman who is taking part in a hunger strike in the UK has been transported to hospital following calls from protesters for medical intervention.
Qesser Zuhrah is one of eight prisoners on hunger strike, who are being held on remand as they await trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action.
Ms Zuhrah is on day 46 of her hunger strike.
A group of protesters gathered outside HMP Bronzefield prison where she was being held, urging immediate medical intervention.
Earlier, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana called on Justice Secretary David Lammy to allow an ambulance into the prison.
"Otherwise Qesser Zuhrah is going to die," she said.
Earlier this week, a group of 51 MPs and peers, including 19 Labour MPs, wrote to Mr Lammy urging him to meet the lawyers of the eight prisoners on hunger strike.
Labour MPs Rachael Maskell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Paula Barker, Mary Kelly Foy and Simon Opher were among the signatories to the letter.
Also on the list were former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and MP Diane Abbott, who both sit as independent MPs, and Labour MP John McDonnell.
MP among protesters who called for medical intervention at prison earlier
Qesser Zuhrah is dying inside HMP Bronzefield and the ambulance is still not here, @DavidLammy. pic.twitter.com/AYmy8425mz
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) December 17, 2025
In the letter, the MPs and peers wrote: "We are growing increasingly dismayed at the Government's lack of action to protect the health and wellbeing of British citizens.
"If you will not meet with the MPs who are representing the hunger strikers and their loved ones, then we plead with you to urgently meet with their solicitors and act to prevent a catastrophe."
The 44 MPs and seven peers noted that the hunger strikers wrote to Mr Lammy on 9 December asking to meet him "before our client’s health deteriorates beyond any possible recovery".
They added that they wished to draw Mr Lammy’s attention to a section of the lawyers’ letter which details "the exceptionally urgent medical status of the prisoners, five of whom have already been hospitalised more than once.
"In particular the following extremely serious symptoms: pulse above 100 beats per minute, ketone levels above 4 (when they should be 0 in a non-diabetic person), weight loss of more than 10kg, deteriorating vision, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, hypoglycaemia, shallow breath, and signs of memory loss".
Sinn Féin MPs also called on the Justice Secretary to engage with lawyers of the hunger strikers.
MP for West Tyrone Órfhlaith Begley said the health and well-being of the hunger strikers is "now entering an extremely alarming stage".
"No one should be criminalised for legitimately protesting against genocide," she said.
'Lives are at immediate risk' - MP tells Commons
In the House of Commons today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the "rules and procedures" are being followed in relation to the Palestine Action hunger strike.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Starmer was asked whether he would make arrangements for the Ministry of Justice to meet the hunger strikers’ lawyers about their treatment.
He said: "He will appreciate there are rules and procedures in place in relation to hunger strikes, and we’re following those rules and procedures."
He had been challenged by Mr Corbyn, who claimed there have been "regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules".
The former Labour leader said: "Yesterday the minister of state for justice declined a meeting with the representatives of a number of hunger strikers in prison at the present time.
"These are all remand prisoners, they’re not convicted of anything.
"Since then, a further prisoner, Qesser, has been taken to hospital, as have others.
"Many people are very concerned by the regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules with respect to these hunger strikes.
"Will he make arrangements for the Ministry of Justice to meet representatives of the hunger strikers to discuss these breaches of the conditions that they’re experiencing at the present time?"
Later, Labour MP Apsana Begum told MPs that "lives are at immediate risk" and called for an "urgent intervention" from Justice Secretary David Lammy.
In a point of order in the Commons, she said: "Over 40 members of this House, led by (Mr Corbyn), wrote to the Justice Secretary on Monday, urgently requesting that he respond and intervene and meet with the lawyers of Palestine Action prisoners now on hunger strike for over 45 days.
"Since then, one of the prisoners, 20-year-old Qesser Zuhrah, was not transferred to hospital despite her urgent pleas for urgent medical treatment since yesterday afternoon, until just a couple of hours ago.
"Prisoners have the right to humane conditions, a right to a fair trial and medical treatment."
