Council notes 

1. Since September 2024 eight remand prisoners detained as a result of alleged activities with Palestine Action have participated in hunger strikes, including at least one individual from Oxford.¹ 

2. The prisoners are expected to be on remand for over a year before they face a trial², despite the CPS guidance suggesting the maximum time anyone should be held on remand is 182 days.³ 

3. Among the demands of the hunger strikers are:⁴ 

a.    Immediate bail for the prisoners held on remand. 

b.    While they are imprisoned, for the prisoners to be able to send and receive communications without restriction, surveillance, or interference from the prison administration. 

c.     The right to a fair trial. 

d.    For Palestine Action to be de-proscribed. 

4. All of those participating in the hunger strikes were detained for alleged activities with Palestine Action prior to parliament adding it to the list of proscribed organisations.? 

5. While some of the hunger strikers have ended their action, at the time of writing, four are still refusing food and are facing serious risk of long term health issues or death.⁵ 

6. 67 MPs - including Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran - have signed an Early Day Motion calling for the Secretary of State for Justice to ensure the treatment of the hunger strikers is “humane” and that their human rights are upheld.⁶ 

7. A number of other councils, including Belfast⁷ and Derry⁸, have passed motions expressing solidarity with the hunger strikers and for the government to enter proper negotiations with the prisoners to bring an end to the strikes. 

Council believes 
 

1. It is extremely concerning that these prisoners have felt that they had no other recourse to protest against their prison conditions but to engage in hunger strikes. 

 
Council resolves 
 

1. To request that the leader of the council:? 

a.    Write to the Secretary of State for Justice and other relevant government ministers, requesting that they? 

                        I.         Meet with the families and representatives of those on hunger strike. 

                      II.         Enter negotiations to bring the hunger strikes to an end and to prevent any loss of life or long term health complications. 

                     III.         Do everything they can to ensure that the prisoners on remand have their human rights respected and that they are treated humanely. 

b.    Write to local MPs Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran requesting that they work to ensure that government ministers carry out the requests in resolves 

Council resolved to:

Support the following motion:

Council notes

1.  Since September 2024 eight remand prisoners detained as a result of alleged activities with Palestine Action have participated in hunger strikes, including at least one individual from Oxford.^[1]

2.  The prisoners are expected to be on remand for over a year before they face a trial^[2], despite the CPS guidance suggesting the maximum time anyone should be held on remand is 182 days.^[3]

3.  In January 2026, the last hunger strike terminated their protest, bringing the hunger strikes to an end^[4]

4.  Among the demands of the hunger strikers were:^[5]

a)  Immediate bail for the prisoners held on remand.

b)  While they are imprisoned, for the prisoners to be able to send and receive communications without restriction, surveillance, or interference from the prison administration.

c)  The right to a fair trial.

d)  For Palestine Action to be de-proscribed.

5.  All of those participating in the hunger strikes were detained for alleged activities with Palestine Action prior to parliament adding it to the list of proscribed organisations. 

6.  71 MPs - including Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran - have signed an Early Day Motion calling for the Secretary of State for Justice to ensure the treatment of the hunger strikers is “humane” and that their human rights are upheld.^[6]

7.  A number of other councils, including Belfast^[7] and Derry^[8], passed motions expressing solidarity with the hunger strikers and for the government to enter proper negotiations with the prisoners to bring an end to the strikes.

Council believes

1.  It is extremely concerning that these prisoners have felt that they had no other recourse to protest against their prison conditions but to engage in hunger strikes.

Council resolves

1.  To request that the leader of the council: 

a)    Write to the Secretary of State for Justice and other relevant government ministers, requesting that they, or officials representing them

                                           i.         Where written consent has been given by the prisoner, meet with the families and representatives of those who have been on hunger strike to discuss the conditions they have faced.

                                          ii.         Do everything they can to ensure that prisoners, whether they are on remand or serving custodial sentences, have their human rights respected and that they are treated humanely.

                                         iii.         Review, far more regularly and systematically whether any proscribed organisation still needs to be proscribed. 

                                        iv.         In light of the High Court ruling on Palestine Action, move to de-proscribe the group and cease attempts to overturn the ruling. 

                                          v.         Because it conflicts with an individual's right to free speech, review whether simply saying you support a proscribed organisation should be an arrestable offence.

b)    Write to local MPs Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran requesting that they work to ensure that government ministers carry out the requests in resolves 1.

Councillor Jarvis, seconded by Councillor Mundy, proposed the motion as set out in the briefing note with additional self-amendments. Councillor Ottino formally withdrew his amendment. 

Councillor Arshad left the meeting and rejoined during debate of this motion. 

Following the debate and on being put to the vote, the motion carried.  

Councillor Djafari-Marbini left the meeting at the conclusion of this item and did not return.  

****

Council resolved to:

Support the following motion:

Council notes

1.  Since September 2024 eight remand prisoners detained as a result of alleged activities with Palestine Action have participated in hunger strikes, including at least one individual from Oxford.^[1]

2.  The prisoners are expected to be on remand for over a year before they face a trial^[2], despite the CPS guidance suggesting the maximum time anyone should be held on remand is 182 days.^[3]

3.  In January 2026, the last hunger strike terminated their protest, bringing the hunger strikes to an end^[4]

4.  Among the demands of the hunger strikers were:^[5]

a)  Immediate bail for the prisoners held on remand.

b)  While they are imprisoned, for the prisoners to be able to send and receive communications without restriction, surveillance, or interference from the prison administration.

c)  The right to a fair trial.

d)  For Palestine Action to be de-proscribed.

5.  All of those participating in the hunger strikes were detained for alleged activities with Palestine Action prior to parliament adding it to the list of proscribed organisations. 

6.  71 MPs - including Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran - have signed an Early Day Motion calling for the Secretary of State for Justice to ensure the treatment of the hunger strikers is “humane” and that their human rights are upheld.^[6]

7.  A number of other councils, including Belfast^[7] and Derry^[8], passed motions expressing solidarity with the hunger strikers and for the government to enter proper negotiations with the prisoners to bring an end to the strikes.

Council believes

1.  It is extremely concerning that these prisoners have felt that they had no other recourse to protest against their prison conditions but to engage in hunger strikes.

Council resolves

1.  To request that the leader of the council: 

a)    Write to the Secretary of State for Justice and other relevant government ministers, requesting that they, or officials representing them

                                           i.         Where written consent has been given by the prisoner, meet with the families and representatives of those who have been on hunger strike to discuss the conditions they have faced.

                                          ii.         Do everything they can to ensure that prisoners, whether they are on remand or serving custodial sentences, have their human rights respected and that they are treated humanely.

                                         iii.         Review, far more regularly and systematically whether any proscribed organisation still needs to be proscribed. 

                                        iv.         In light of the High Court ruling on Palestine Action, move to de-proscribe the group and cease attempts to overturn the ruling. 

                                          v.         Because it conflicts with an individual's  ...  view the full minutes text for item 135