TWO imprisoned Palestine activists launched a series of rolling hunger strikes today amid an “orchestrated witch-hunt by the British government.”

Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Amu Gib, 30, began refusing food at Bronzefield prison on the 108th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration today, which granted Jews the right to establish a national home in Palestine.

Ms Zuhrah is a member of the so-called Filton 24, accused of being involved in the Palestine Action raid on an Elbit Systems hub at Filton, Bristol, on August 6 2024.

Ms Gib is among five people accused of breaking into the RAF Brize Norton and causing £7m worth of damage to three military aircraft and has been in custody since July 3.

They are among 33 people being held on remand for Palestine-related activism and are being supported by Prisoners for Palestine.

Ms Zuhrah, who was imprisoned last November but is not expected to go to trial until April 2026, has reported worsening mistreatment in jail following the proscription of Palestine Action this summer.

She said: “For 15 months, we who are imprisoned for Palestine have tested this ‘justice system’ and for 15 months we have watched Elbit Systems, the zionist entity and our government abuse justice and prolong our imprisonment, demanding that we forsake our cause in exchange for our freedom. 

“And so now, we’re forced to confront those that refuse to look us in the eyes with the very foundation of the humanity they deny recognising in us — our life, and our right to life.” 

Ms Gib said that she is hunger-striking because “I still have a duty to fight for freedom from oppression.

“How can we sit in prison, waiting until the noose tightens around our necks for opposing genocide? 

“Are we supposed to smile and ask nicely for our lines from a ‘justice system’ which is fundamentally corrupted by zionism?”

The first Filton 24 trial starts on November 17.

Prisoners for Palestine spokeswoman Francesca Nadin said: “The unnecessary imprisonment of Palestine activists is clearly part of an orchestrated witch-hunt by the British government. 

“In the face of this abuse of state power, the prisoners have no choice but to fight back in the only way they can and strike for their freedom.”