PALESTINE ACTION hunger strikers have ended their protest after 73 days, following the government’s decision to deny a major contract to Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems.

The move was a central demand of hunger strikers Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed, Lewie Chiaramello, Teuta Hoxha, Jon Cink, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, who began re-feeding in line with medical guidance on Wednesday evening.

It came as Elbit lost out on a £2 billion contract that would have seen the company train up to 60,000 British troops each year over a decade.

Elbit has secured more than 10 public contracts since 2012, but campaigners said the latest decision marked a significant shift.

The contract was lost despite efforts by officials in the Ministry of Defence and the British army, who it was revealed had held meetings and tours with Elbit Systems UK and its parent company in Jerusalem.

The end of the hunger strike also followed a meeting between national prison healthcare leaders and representatives of the prisoners, arranged by the Ministry of Justice, to discuss prison conditions and medical treatment.

Prisoners for Palestine (PfP) said the strike had achieved multiple victories in addition to the key demand.

In a statement, the group said that more than 500 people had signed up to take direct action in recent weeks, adding: “Elbit Systems is living on stolen time — we will see it shut down for good, not because of the government, but because of the people.”

PfP said Ms Muraisi’s transfer to HMP Bronzefield has been accepted, while Ms Hoxha has been offered a meeting with the head of the Joint Extremism Unit at her prison.

The group also cited improvements in mail access, books and disclosure of export licence information.

Describing the action as the longest co-ordinated hunger strike in British history, PfP added: “It exposed to the world Britain has political prisoners in service of a foreign genocidal regime, and has seen hundreds of people commit to take direct action in the prisoners’ footsteps.

“While these prisoners end their hunger strike, the resistance has just begun.

“Banning a group and imprisoning our comrades has backfired on the British state, direct action is alive, and the people will drive Elbit out of Britain for good.”