In a show of solidarity with Palestinians affected by the conflict in Gaza, students in Leeds, Newcastle, and Bristol have taken to occupying university campuses, setting up tents outside key
university buildings as a form of protest.
The demonstrations, led by pro-Palestinian student groups, come in the wake of similar actions seen on campuses across the United States. Bristol students articulated their protest as a direct response to what they perceive as their university's involvement in what they describe as Israel's actions against Palestinians. Similarly, Apartheid Off Campus Newcastle voiced concerns over their institution's investment strategies and alleged complicity in Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Meanwhile, student activists in other locations have organized marches and one-off protests to raise awareness. At Warwick University, a camp has been established in the piazza, intending to remain in place for a week.
Central to the demands of these student groups is a call for their universities to divest from Israel in light of its military activities in Gaza. Divestment would involve the sale of investments in Israeli companies or the cessation of financial ties with Israel. In support of their cause, the students have solicited donations of essential items such as food, drinks, and hygiene products.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, a UK-based advocacy organization dedicated to Palestinian human rights, highlighted the growing momentum of the movement, citing student participation from various universities including Leeds, Newcastle, Bristol, and Sheffield, with Warwick serving as a focal point for activism.
Images shared by the campaign depict sizable gatherings of students on campuses, alongside makeshift tents and banners prominently displayed across university grounds.
These protests echo similar actions witnessed in the United States, particularly notable at Columbia University in New York and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where violent clashes occurred, resulting in over 1,000 protester arrests nationwide. Photo by Adrian Pingstone, Wikimedia commons.