The human body is remarkably resilient, but even its limits can be tragically tested. For those engaged in prolonged hunger strikes, a terrifying and unpredictable physiological breakdown begins, a descent into a state where the body turns on itself. A critical period has now been reached for several prisoners currently refusing food, according to medical professionals closely monitoring their condition.
Dr. James Smith, an A&E doctor and epidemiologist, paints a stark picture. These individuals aren’t simply fasting; they are entering a dangerous zone where the body systematically dismantles itself for survival. While the broad risks are known, the precise timing and manner in which they manifest remains chillingly uncertain. The heart, in particular, is now a major concern, vulnerable to potentially fatal arrhythmias or progressive failure.
Beyond the heart, a silent threat looms: micronutrient deficiencies. Thiamine, a vital B vitamin essential for energy production, is rapidly depleted. The body’s reserves are limited, and without it, devastating damage can occur to the brain and nervous system – damage that may prove irreversible. Experts warn that the hunger strikers are now firmly within this perilous territory.
Historically, the progression of a hunger strike follows a grim pattern. The first week brings a slowing heart rate, physical wasting, and the body’s initial consumption of fat reserves. Days eight to fourteen see the depletion of glycogen stores, releasing ammonia that creates a distinct, unsettling odor. Weight loss begins to plateau, but the heart itself starts to shrink.
As the strike continues beyond fifteen days, collapse and bed confinement become increasingly likely. Nightmares plague the mind, and both physical and psychological health deteriorate rapidly. Sleep becomes a fractured, disturbed escape, sometimes descending into delirium – a state described in the 1920s as “raving all night.” After twenty to seventy days, exhaustion becomes complete, though consciousness may persist until around the fiftieth day.
The grim historical record suggests a limit to survival without intervention. Terence MacSwiney, a hunger striker in 1920, endured 74 days before succumbing to starvation. Beyond seventy days with no sustenance, the body appears to reach its absolute breaking point.
Communication with the strikers is limited, making accurate assessment difficult. One protester, Qesser Zuhrah, reported severe chest pains after forty days without food. An ambulance wasn’t dispatched until nearly 24 hours later, a delay that raises serious concerns about the urgency of medical response. Even survival carries a heavy price, with potential long-term damage to vital organs – kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart, and muscles – and no guarantee of full recovery.
The situation is further complicated by the unpredictable nature of acute malnutrition. Electrolyte imbalances can shift suddenly and fatally, mirroring the dangers seen in severe cases of anorexia. The strikers are now at risk of these rapid, life-threatening changes.
Past practices of force-feeding, though brutal and degrading, once prevented fatalities. However, this approach has largely been abandoned, leading to tragic consequences in the 1980s when ten prisoners involved with the IRA or INLA died during hunger strikes. The long-term health impacts on survivors were also devastating, with many suffering chronic conditions and premature death.
Currently, four individuals are engaged in hunger strikes: Heba Muraisi (Day 50), Teuta Hoxha (Day 45), Kamran Ahmed (Day 44), and Amu Gib (Day 52). Qesser Zuhrah ended her strike on Day 48, while others, Umer Khalid and Jon Cink, halted their protests earlier due to medical necessity. Lewie Chiaramello is undertaking a partial strike due to his Type 1 diabetes.
Their demands center on the release of fellow prisoners, the deproscription of Palestine Action as a terror organization, and an end to UK government funding for Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. As each day passes, the stakes become impossibly high, and the shadow of tragedy looms ever larger.
Legal challenges have been initiated, alleging government abandonment of its own prison safety policies. Despite these concerns, authorities maintain that established procedures are being followed, and refuse to engage directly with the strikers or their representatives. The situation remains volatile, a desperate plea unfolding within the confines of the prison system.
