A group of pro-Palestine activists demonstrated in London today outside of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in support of Mahmoud Sarsak, the 25-year-old Gazan footballer detained by Israel for almost three years without charge.

A group of Palestinian activists demonstrated in London today outside of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in support of Mahmoud Sarsak, the 25-year-old Gazan footballer detained by Israel for almost three years without charge.

Today marks his 83rd day of hunger strike and there are fears his life is in imminent danger. He has survived for two weeks longer than IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands – who the same course of action to highlight internment in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Sarsak is the only individual detained under the Unlawful Combatant Law, which allows Israel to detain suspects without charge for up to six months, renewable as deemed necessary. Another Israeli tool, called administrative detention, was the centre of an agreement reached on 14 May after interventions by, among others, Middle East Peace Quartet spokesman Tony Blair. Following a mass hunger strike of an estimated 2000 Palestinians prisoners, Israel gave significant concessions, but Sarsak's case was not covered by the agreement.

On Wednesday, a doctor from the organisation Physician for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-I) visited him in the prison for the first time, after the group petitioned an Israeli court for access. The doctor reported that Sarsak – who has lost 28 kg and now weighs 51 - was at 'immediate risk of death' and urged his hospitalisation.

According to the local agency Ma'an, on Thursday the prisoner was brought to the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, that however did not find necessary to admit him.

As his health continues to deteriorate, demonstrations take place every day in different cities. Today, in London, around 10 protesters from Palestine Place - a recently reclaimed space in Central London hosting a pro-Palestine festival – demonstrated in front of the DCMS building just off Trafalgar Square. In order to raise the pressure on the government, the activists encouraged passers-by to petition government over Sarsak's detention. A large banner also called for Israel to be stripped of hosting the UEFA Under 21 finals.

Yael Khan, an activists, said: “People in Gaza are mad for football, they play it everywhere. Israel is trying to crush Palestinian pride, by jailing one of their most prominent footballers.”