UN experts urge UK to protect rights of pro-Palestinian detainees on hunger strike
'The State’s duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished,' experts say
Protesters called for “an end to the occupation and a halt to arms sales to Israel” during the national march organized in London by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in London, United Kingdom on November 29, 2025. During the march held as part of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, participants voiced their demand for “an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and for Britain to cease its cooperation in this process.
ISTANBUL
UN experts on Friday urged the UK government to protect the lives and rights of eight pro-Palestinian detainees who have been on a hunger strike since Nov. 2.
Experts, including Gina Romero, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Cecilia M. Bailliet, George Katrougalos, Ben Saul, Irene Khan, and Francesca Albanese, voiced "grave concern" for the rights of eight pro-Palestinian activists detained in the UK, who have been on "indefinite hunger strike" for almost two months, the UN human rights office said in a statement.
The statement noted that the detainees' health reportedly "deteriorated significantly," signaling "critical risk" of serious complications.
"The State’s duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished,” the experts noted. "Authorities must ensure timely access to emergency and hospital care when clinically indicated, refrain from actions that may amount to pressure or retaliation, and respect medical ethics."
Experts underscored the right to health for all, urging states to respect individual autonomy while ensuring continuous, independent medical monitoring and taking necessary steps to protect lives and prevent irreversible harm, without resorting to coercive or punitive measures.
They also raised concerns over the treatment of hunger strikers in detention, citing delayed medical care, excessive restraints during hospitalization, denial of family and legal contact, and insufficient independent medical oversight.
"These reports raise serious questions about compliance with international human rights law and standards, including obligations to protect life and prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," experts stressed.
The statement recounted that experts had previously warned the UK government against applying counter-terrorism frameworks to non-terrorist political protests, as well as criminalizing protected freedoms of assembly, association, and expression and suppressing legitimate political dissent, including advocacy related to Palestine.
"The experts have also expressed serious concern as to the overbreadth of the definition of terrorism under UK law, the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, and the subsequent mass arrests and criminal charges, including terrorism-related offenses, brought against individuals for alleged support for Palestine Action," the statement further explained.
Experts reiterated the need to understand the hunger strikes within a context of "restrictions on pro-Palestinian activism in the UK" and urged the UK government to "immediately guarantee" appropriate health care for strikers and engage in "meaningful dialogue and action" to address protesters' claims, along with rights violations.
"Preventable deaths in custody are never acceptable. The State bears full responsibility for the lives and wellbeing of those it detains," the experts also said. "Urgent action is required now."
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