Daniel Gorman

After discussions with her doctors Laila has agreed to go on partial hunger strike, for the time being. She told them “there have been developments that have given me hope, and I want to switch to a partial hunger strike of 300 calories, consumed as liquids and not solid food”.   This will give some more time, but the doctors have explained that there will still be a limit to how much her body can hold out due to the continuation of her strike on what will still be a severely diminished calorie intake.   The recommendation has been that she takes this nutritional supplement which contains only 300 calories. They are keeping her under observation to see how her body responds to it. If it adapts well and she stabilises, she will be discharged and will continue to take one of these per day.   When Laila started her hunger strike, she didn’t have much hope that Alaa would be released in her lifetime. Now she is cautiously optimistic.   She is prepared, and has told us be prepared, that she could return to a full hunger strike at any moment should she feel that things are not moving forward for Alaa’s release so that he can be reunited with his son Khaled in Brighton. The biggest thanks to all those supporting and fighting to help free Alaa - it is this growing momentum that has made Laila believe that she may yet be able to live and see her son free.   #FreeAlaa

“Could I ask the Prime Minister to pick up the phone to President Sisi & seek the release of Alaa” “I can assure him I will do everything I can to ensure his release, and that includes phone calls as necessary. I gave my word to the family that's what I will do, and I will”

Day 123 of Laila Soueif's hunger strike. She was outside Downing Street again this morning, still waiting for news from the Prime Minister on the release of her son. She was joined by @HelenaKennedyKC and @Can_Yeginsu. Laila will continue to return to Downing Street for as long as she can.