Over 200 musicians, actors, writers, performers and athletes including the likes of Sally Rooney, Kneecap, Denise Gough, The Pogues, Biig Piig, David Holmes, Killian Sunderman, Steve Wall and many more have signed Irish Artists for Palestine’s letter in solidarity with the hunger strikers taking place in British Prisons.
Eight Palestine Action-affiliated people who took action in solidarity with Palestine have been on hunger strike since November 2nd in protest at their prolonged pre-trial imprisonment, censorship of communications and alleged mistreatment in custody. Five have since been hospitalised.
The friends of a Palestine Action-affiliated prisoner currently on hunger strike say she was left to lie on her cell floor with worsening chest pains while the prison refused repeated requests to call an ambulance.
Qesser Zuhrah has not eaten for more than 41 days after she joined a rolling hunger strike launched by imprisoned Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners over their treatment and the proscription of the direct action group.
The action is considered to be the biggest in the UK since the 1981 hunger strike by Irish Republican prisoners, led by Bobby Sands in Northern Ireland.
Full list of people below to date – I have added my name to the list.
The cosigned call on politicians to act immediately on their demands at this critical stage of the protest and the mainstream media to uphold their duty to the public by reporting the hunger strike.
You can sign this open letter through the Irish Artists for Palestine instagram page or contact us as [email protected]
For interviews with prisoners and campaigners, contact: [email protected]
IAFP Signed Letter in Solidarity with 2025 Hunger Strike:
To Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Justice Secretary David Lammy, Members of Parliament and The Dáil and Media Workers and Journalists,
We, Irish Artists for Palestine, write to express our solidarity with the political prisoners currently engaged in hunger strike within British prisons. Their decision to place their bodies on the line is a profound act of resistance – one that echoes the long histories of both Irish and Palestinian political prisoners who have used hunger strike as a non-violent act of sacrifice to assert their dignity in the face of state violence and repression. This collective protest is the largest hunger strike in British prisons since the 1981 hunger strikes, and it demands urgent public attention.
The prisoners – Qesser Zuhrah, Teuta Hoxha, Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed (the Filton 24), Amu Gib, Jon Cink, Umer Khalid and Lewie Chiaramello (Brize Norton 5) – have been incarcerated by the state without trial for allegedly protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza, in which the British government has been actively complicit. Some individuals have been imprisoned for over a year without trial and it will be up to two years before they are heard. This is a grotesque violation of the UK’s standard pre-trial custody time limit of six months.
Some prisoners have now entered their fifth week without food. Their bodies are deteriorating, with five hospitalisations so far, and the risks to their lives are escalating rapidly. Throughout this period, their basic rights have been heavily restricted and their demands have gone unanswered. Mainstream media outlets remain silent on the issue and there has been little to no coverage of this protest or of their demands.
The hunger strikers have five demands:
- End to all prison censorship and withholding of all letters, phone calls and books
- 2. Immediate bail for all Palestine Action prisoners currently held in UK prisons
- Right to a fair trial for all Palestine Action prisoners held in UK prisons
- Deproscription of Palestine Action and the removal of its terror
classification - Shutdown of all Elbit Systems sites and subsidiaries in the UK
We, the undersigned, call on the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Justice Secretary David Lammy, MPs and public representatives across Britain and Ireland to take immediate action, using all parliamentary and civic channels available to ensure these demands are addressed with urgency and transparency. We demand that media organisations uphold their duty to the public by reporting the hunger strike, as well as the demands of the hunger strikers, to the public at this critical stage.
We believe this state repression is unfolding within a wider global crackdown and criminalisation of the Palestine solidarity movement. Increasingly, artists, activists and other dissenting voices are being censored, silenced, or smeared with baseless ‘terror’ allegations as a means of suppressing political expression. These systemic and structural efforts to marginalise dissent affect all of us – not only those targeted at the moment.
Our solidarity with the hunger strikers is rooted in our broader commitment to freedom and justice for the Palestinian people who have faced seventy eight years of occupation and over two years of genocide in Gaza. There are currently 3,368 Palestinian prisoners being held hostage in Israeli prisons under administrative detention, without a trial.
We stand with the hunger strikers, Palestinian hostages and with all those who continue to struggle for freedom and justice in Palestine.
In Solidarity,
Irish Artists for Palestine
Signed:
Sally Rooney, KNEECAP, The Mary Wallopers, Lankum, Simone Kirby, The Pogues, Ardal O’Hanlon, David Holmes, Beoga, Biig Piig, Pauline Scanlon, BIIRD, Carsie Blanton, Denise Gough, Array Collective, Khalid Abdalla, MayKay, Michael Magee, Cathy Belton, Steve Wall, Saint Sister, Lowkey, Tyrone McKenna, Elaine Feeney, RÓIS, Vittorio Angelone, Laurence McKeown (1981 Hunger Striker & Writer), Pj Kirby Galang, KhakiKid, Kojaque, SIOMHA, ARVEENE, Pillow Queens, Eoghan O’Ceannabháin, Saoirse Duane (Wyvern Lingo), SPRINTS, Roisin El Cherif, Huartan, Jessy Blakemore, Nell Mescal, Ríoghnach Connolly, Niamh Dunne, Ciaran Gaffney (Seanoíche), Sinéad Gleeson, Cerys Murphy (dirteemurfee), DUG, Danny Morrison, Talha Wise Wolf, Ispíní Na hÉireann, April Lawlor, Fiachna O Braonain (Hot House Flowers), Blue Niall, Molly McGlynn, Bobby Fingers, NIYL, Abood Aladham, Bon Voyage, Tommy McCarthy, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin… full list below.
Statements from Individual Artists:
“The Pogues support Irish Artists for Palestine in their expression of solidarity with the individuals currently undertaking hunger strikes in British prisons. We stand with calls for human rights, dignity, and due process for all political prisoners.” – Spider Stacey (The Pogues)
“It is unthinkable that in 2025 citizens are seeing such active inaction from their own elected officials that they see no other option that putting their lives on the line. Their demands must be met.” (MayKay (IAFP, Fight Like Apes)
“The British government is not just complicit in genocide, it is actively assisting it. It is attempting to cover for its crimes by criminalising those who are exposing them. Solidarity with the hunger strikers. Solidarity with the activists who are standing up against genocide. Solidarity with the people of Palestine.” (Eoghan Ó’ Ceannabháin)
“I, Róis, completely support Irish Artists for Palestine in this endeavour. I stand with these 8 political prisoners in their protest against the British State. They are not terrorists and only demand a stop to this genocide. I have hope that they will expose the crimes of the British government in aiding this genocide in gaza. The government needs to act empathetically and put an end to the suffering of innocent people in The Occupied state.” – Rose Connolly (RÓIS):
“Release them now. This will go down as a shameful period in UK history – akin to the false charges brought against the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four. British justice is not always about justice.” – Steve Wall (Musician – The Stunning):
SIGNATURES: (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Abood Aladham (Artist)
Áine Nic (Arts Festival)
Aine ór (Ióga an Dún)
Aisling Jarvis (Artist, Producer, Songwriter)
Alan McMonagle (Writer)
Alice Malseed (Writer and Producer)
Alison Spittle (Comedian)
Allan Cavanagh (Visual Artist)
Andrew Ranken (The Pogues / The Mysterious Wheels)
Anna Cafolla (Journalist)
Anne Ralph (Music Lecturer)
Anthony Cacace (Boxer)
Aoibheann McCann (Writer/Performer)
Aoife Dunne (Comedian)
April Lawlor (Musician)
Ardal O’Hanlon (Actor/Writer/Comedian)
Array Collective (Artists)
ARVEENE (Dj / Music Producer )
b+ (Photographer/film maker)
Basciville (Musician)
Beoga (Musicians)
Bernadette Hopkins (Visual Artist)
BIIRD (Musicians)
Blue Niall (Musician / Artist)
Bon Voyage (Hip house duo)
Breandán Ó Luachráin (Musician)
Brian Cross B+ (Photographer/professor)
Caitríona Frost (Musician)
Caragh Hobbs (Educator and creator)
Carsie Blanton (Artist)
Catherine Ann Cullen (Poet and songwriter)
Cathy Belton (Actress)
Catriona Gribben (Musician)
Chlöe Fitzgerald (Musicians)
Christina O Donnell (Artist)
Cian Finn (Musician)
Ciara Ní É (Scríbhneoir)
Ciara Taaffe (Harpist)
Ciaran Gaffney (Founder – Seanchoíche)
Ciarna Hackett (Artist)
Clara Kumagai (Author)
Claire Loughran (Musician/ Photographer)
Clíodhna Bhreatnach (Poet / Praxis: The Artist’s Trade Union of Ireland) Colin Walsh (Writer)
Colm Scully (Writer)
Conor Crummey (Writer)
Cormac Juan Breatnach (Musician)
Cormac O’Donnell (Director)
Dan Sheehan (Writer)
Daniel Wade (Novelist, poet and playwright )
Dannny Morrison (Writer)
Daragh Fleming (Writer)
Darragh Mac Dónaill (Producer – MMMouth)
David Holmes (Music Producer & creator of original soundtracks)
Declan O’Rourke (Musician)
Deirdre McGrath (Healthcare Worker)
Denise gough (Actress)
Dennis Harvey (Filmmaker)
Dermot Sheedy (Musician)
DJ Karmawi (DJ and Music Producer)
Doireann Ní Ghlacáin (Musician and broadcaster) DUG (Musicians)
Edel Cox (Creative Practitioner)
Ella Gaynor (Writer)
Elaine Fenney (Writer)
Elaine Mears (Human Rights Law Researcher and Theatre Artist)
Ellen O’Reilly (Disko Volante)
Emily Fitzell (Artist)
Emma Brennan (Visual Artist)
Emma Ní Fhíoruisce (Musician)
Eoin Devereux (Writer, Professor) Eoin Gaine (Musician)
Eugene Gaine (Musician)
Fiachna O Braonain (Musician – Hothouse Flowers) Gemma Doherty (Musician)
George Hanover (Actor)
Geraldine O’Reilly (Visual artist)
Graham Hackett (Artist)
Greg Hall – Pellador (Designer)
Helen mc Donnell (Tattoo artist)
Ian Lynch. (Musician – Lankum) Iona Zajac (Artist)
J.Gaine (Musician)
Jacinta Sheerin (Actor and Writer)
James Conor Patterson (Poet)
JAMES FEARNLEY (Musician – The Pogues)
Jane Jermyn (Ceramic Artist)
Jane McGrath (Lecturer, SETU)
Jem Finer (Musician – The Pogues) Jenny Maguire (Writer and Campaigner) Jess Smyth / Biig Piig (Artist)
Jessica O’Brien (Healthcare Worker)
Jessica Traynor (Poet)
Jessy Blakemore (Singer/songwriter)
Joanne Cusack (Researcher/ Activist / Musician)
Joe Campbell-McArdle (Musician)
John Barry (Professor)
John Dolan (Lecturer)
Joshua Sampson (Musician)
June Caldwell (Writer)
Kate Demolder (Journalist)
Kate Hartley (Designer)
Kate Thompson (Author)
Kathryn Louisa (Supervisor)
Keith Ridgway (Writer)
Kevin Barry (Writer)
Kevin Brannigan (Director)
Kevin Rowland (Dexys and Dexys Midnight Runners)
Khakikid (Musician)
Killian Sundermann’s (Comedian)
Kneecap (Musicians)
Kojaque (Musician)
Laura-Blaise McDowell (Writer)
Lauren Foley (Writer/Artist)
Laurence McKeown (1981 Hunger Striker & Writer)
Leah Burke (Artist)
Liadan Ní Chuinn (Scríbhneoir)
Lola Coady (Member of April’s band and member of ciúnas)
Lorna Nic Cathmhaoil (Arts Festival)
Lowkey (Artist/Activist)
Lughaidh Armstrong Mayock (Musician – Basht)
Maeve O’Lynn (Writer)
Máire Ní Mheibhric (Human Rights Monitor)
Mango (Artist)
Maria McManus (Poet)
Maria rafferty (Musician)
Mary Costello (Writer)
Matt McGinn (Musician)
MayKay (Musician)
Meabh Ni Dhoibhlin (Filmmaker)
Méabh Smyth (Musician)
Melina Malone (Artist)
Michael Magee (Writer)
Mikey Cullen (Poet and school teacher)
Miriam de Búrca (Artist)
Miriam Needham (Theatre-maker)
Mo Dafa (Music curator)
Mohsen Amini (Musician)
Molly McGlynn (Director)
Morgan Leathem Ventura (Curator, writer)
Múlú (Musician)
Myfanwy Carville (Dancer)
Myles O’Reilly (Artist)
Neilí Conroy (Actor)
Nell Mescal (singer songwriter)
Niah Donnelly (Keyboard player for April)
Niall Byrne (Nialler9)
Niamh Dunne (Beoga)
Niamh Ní Charra (Archivist, Musician) Nicola McClean (Artist)
Nina Hynes (Artist)
NIYL (Artist)
Órlaith Mac Eoin Manus (Artist)
Paddy Barnes (Boxer)
Paddy McCrory (Boxer)
Paddy McDonnell (Comedian)
Paul Doran (Writer & Filmmaker)
Paul Jarvis (Producer/DJ)
Paul Maddern (Artist)
Paul McSherry (Musician)
Paula Ní Longagáin (Théâtre maker)
Pauline Scanlon (Musician / Singer) Peadar-Tom Mercier (Musician)
Pillow Queens (Artist – Pillow Queens)
Pj Kirby Galang (Broadcaster)
Proinsias ni bhroin (NHS worker)
Rachel Connolly (Writer)
Rachel Fallon (Artist)
Rachel Galvo (Comedian)
Rachel Grace (Musician)
Ray Heffernan (Songwriter)
Rebecca O’Keeffe (Author)
Rebel Phoenix (Musician)
Ríoghnach Connolly (Musician)
Ríonach Ní Néill (Artist)
Rita Ann Higgins (Writer)
Rita Simons (Family Worker)
Rob Sutton (Artist)
Roisin Davis (Literary Agent)
Roisin El Cherif (Artist)
Roisin Lanigan (Writer)
Róisín Ní Neachtain (Artist and poet)
Rory Gleeson (Writer)
Rose connolly (Musician – RÓIS)
Rosita A. Sweetman (Writer)
Saint Sister (Band)
Sally MacMonagle (Photographer) Sally Rooney (Author)
Saoirse Duane (Artist)
Sarah Cleland (Manager)
Sarah Davis-Goff (Publisher)
Sarah Geraghty (Psychotherapist)
Sarah Gilmartin (Writer)
Sarah Lewtas (Visual Artist)
Seán Hewitt (Author)
Sean McComb (Boxer)
Sheila Armstrong (Writer)
Síle Seoige (Broadcaster)
Simone Kirby (Actor)
Sinéad Furlong (Singer)
Sinéad Gleeson (Writer)
Sinéad O’Hart (Children’s author)
Sinéad O’Shea (Filmmaker/Writer)
Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín (Dance Artist)
Síomha Brock (Ceoltóir)
Síomha Hennessy (Comedian)
Spider Stacy (The Pogues)
SPRINTS (Musician)
Stephen Connolly (Writer/Publisher)
Stephen O’Neill (Lecturer)
Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh (Artist | Writer)
Steve Wall (Musician/ Actor – The Stunning, The Walls)
Stevie Scullion (Malojian)
Stiofán Ó Luachráin/Huartan (Ceoltóir)
Susan Madert (Visual artist)
SUSANNAH DICKEY (Poet and novelist)
Talha AlAli (Artist – Talha Wise Wolf)
Tarach Ó Snodaigh (Musician – GrooveLine)
Terry Muldoon (Medical doctor)
The Mary Wallopers (Musician)
Tim MacGabhann (Writer)
Thomas Morris (Writer)
Tom Termini (Author)
Tomás Mulligan/Ispíní Na hÉireann (Ispíní na hÉireann)
Tommy McCarthy (Boxer)
Tyrone McKenna (Boxer)
Úna Monaghan (Musician, Composer and University Lecturer)
Veronica Dyas (Artist)
Vittorio Angelone (Comedian/Actor/Writer)
Viviana Fiorentino (Writer)
Zara Meadows (Writer)
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
