“A lot of the times it feels like you’re being suffocated. Lots of things change about you, the condition of your skin, you start to turn grey, both in terms of the hue of your skin but also you notice more grey hairs, everything manifests physically,” says Teuta Hoxha, 29, awaiting trial at HMP Peterborough. “There are days where it feels very, very heavy on the mind and on the shoulders. But from my end, and I think for my comrades, we remain strong mentally and determined.”
On Saturday, Hoxha will be on day 42 of her hunger strike with other Palestine Action-linked prisoners, amid increasing fears for their health. Most of the group are being held on remand over alleged criminal damage, aggravated burglary and violent disorder at a factory for the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit systems in Filton, near Bristol. Many have been taken to hospital, some on multiple occasions; the justice secretary, David Lammy, has refused to meet their representatives.
