Video: Pro-Palestinian protests sweep UK campuses

Since the beginning of the week, a small number of tents adorned with Palestinian flags have appeared on the grass outside the SOAS University of London. These encampments are part of a broader series of peaceful protests at various universities across the UK, aimed at calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Students, many wearing masks, gathered on a blue tarpaulin for a “teach-in,” while others organized groceries and supplies within the tents. Yara, a 23-year-old former SOAS student, noted that the protest at SOAS includes over 20 students, with similar demonstrations at around a dozen other UK universities, inspired by earlier campus protests in the U.S.

Yara explained that the protesters’ goal is to pressure the SOAS administration to cut ties with companies implicated in what they believe to be Israel’s illegal activities in settlement economies and arms trading.

At Warwick University in Coventry, the first “Gaza solidarity encampment” was set up on April 26, followed by others at universities in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Cambridge, and Oxford. At Edinburgh, students have initiated a hunger strike, while in Cambridge, orange tents line the exterior of King’s College.

Cambridge University has expressed its commitment to free speech and the right to protest, asserting its stance against any form of hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The issue of campus safety for Jewish students has become prominent, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arranging meetings with university vice-chancellors to address the rise in anti-Semitism.

The Community Security Trust has reported a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents following the escalation of conflict between Hamas and Israel, which began with a major attack by Hamas on October 7. This attack resulted in over 1,170 deaths, primarily civilians. Currently, about 128 hostages remain in Gaza, with 36 believed to be deceased.

The conflict has also seen a heavy toll in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting at least 34,844 deaths, mostly women and children.

Jeremy Corbyn, a former leader of the Labour party, voiced support for the SOAS student protesters, advocating for the recognition of students’ valid opinions and humanitarian views, rather than suppressing their protests.

Yara mentioned that the protesters are prepared to maintain their encampment until their demands are met, despite the challenging weather conditions they faced initially. She emphasized that any discomfort experienced by the students is minor compared to the hardships faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

A 19-year-old SOAS student studying global development and law expressed a strong commitment to the cause, planning to join the encampment to actively support the ongoing efforts, driven by the urgency of the humanitarian crisis.