Last remaining Hunger Striker will go on thirst strike in 5 days if government continues to refuse a meeting

The following press release is being issued on behalf of Prisoners for Palestine, and is being shared here in full. 

London — 22-year-old Umer Khalid, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Limb-Girdle Musclar Dystrophy, and is currently being held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, is the last remaining hunger striker to participate in the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strike campaign. Umer, now on day nine of his hunger strike, resuming after a short pause on 10th January 2026, has warned he will undertake a thirst strike if the government continues to refuse a meeting within the next five days. 

Umer, who is from Manchester, has been charged in connection to an action that took place at the RAF Brize Norton site, where two military aircrafts were decommissioned allegedly causing millions of pounds worth of damage. It was after this action took place that the then foreign secretary Yvette Cooper made the controversial decision to proscribe Palestine Action in the UK, making support for it a terrorist offence. Significantly, he has suffered severe mistreatment at the hands of the prison since being held on remand in July 2025 last year. 

The fact that Umer suffers from Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy severely increases the risks associated with his hunger strike action. He was initially on hunger strike for twelve days before becoming seriously unwell and unable to walk, and has now stated that he intends to go on a thirst strike if his demands are not met.  He has also asked prison staff not to intervene in the event he becomes unconscious.

Prisoners for Palestine have documented that: 

"Umer has continuously been subjected to violent abuse by the prison, namely the abuse and denial of his religious and welfare rights. He was initially barred from showering or using a prayer mat to perform his prayers, and denied access to a Quran which the prison permitted only after public outrage. Denial of his religious rights has continued, however, with prison officers physically assaulting him, putting him in solitary confinement, cutting off his clothes and strip searching him for giving the call to prayer. His calls, visits and access to post are also severely restricted and monitored."

In a statement, Umers friend expressed:

“It terrifies me that the government have been so incredibly negligent during this hunger strike, proving on multiple occasions that the health of the prisoners is not something that concerns them enough to act on their responsibilities or simply just meet the demands. But an even scarier notion is processing the fact that someone you love and care for so deeply feels as though they have no other options left, in what should be an unnecessary battle for basic rights and dignity. That the repression is so strong, that this is their only avenue of resistance left. And when you pair that with a person as determined, brave, and resilient as we all know Umer is, as loyal in his love for the Palestinians as he is to his family and friends, I just really pray that the government realise how absolutely despicable they are and start to enter some form of negotiation soon, insha’Allah. I am so incredibly proud of Umer, we all are, and we miss him.”

[ENDS]