Activists accused in Britain of supporting the banned Palestine Action group have pledged to go on hunger strike in protest against being held in prison while they await trial.
Campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said the undisclosed number of inmates will begin their hunger strike on November 2, the 108th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, claiming the treatment of those in custody has deteriorated since Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist group in July.
Prisoners for Palestine said five of its members being held are accused of being involved in the vandalism of two planes at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, causing £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage. Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the incident and for breaking into Israel-based defence firm Elbit Systems' site in Bristol last August.
Eight accused of being involved in the defence firm incident, allegedly involving sledgehammers, are due to stand trial at Woolwich Crown Court from November 17. Prisoners for Palestine said six activists were arrested at the scene last summer, with a further 18 arrested later.
The group said it delivered a letter to the Home Office on Monday and said those going on hunger strike, some of whom have been in custody for more than a year, are demanding that they are released on bail and the terror-related charges against them are dropped.
“This is a historic moment," a representative of the group said. "The government has left the prisoners with no other option but to hunger strike for their freedom and justice.”
The letter was handed in by two previously jailed activists, Francesca Nadin and Audrey Corno. “The government must make the correct decision and give the prisoners the basic legal rights that they have been denied," they said.
Dr Asim Qureshi, research director at campaign group Cage, which is helping to negotiate the hunger strike, said the hunger strike "will be the first of its kind in at least two decades".
“It brings into sharp focus the violence of the [prison] system in the UK, a violence we often associate with places afar,” he said.
A government representative said denied the allegations.
"We treat all prisoners fairly and equally, regardless of background circumstances," the representative said. “Palestine Action has conducted an escalating campaign involving criminal damage to Britain’s national security infrastructure, intimidation and alleged violence. That activity puts the safety and security of the public at risk.”
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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