Students at Oxford and Cambridge universities in the UK have taken a stand against Israel’s war on Gaza by setting up protest camps on their campuses. The demonstrations, which mirror similar protests at American universities and Sciences Po University in Paris, aim to draw attention to the universities’ complicity in Israel’s actions.
At Oxford, the Pitts River Museum lawns were occupied by demonstrators from Oxford Action for Palestine, who set up a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” with tents and posters reading “All eyes on Gaza”. In Cambridge, a “Liberated Zone” encampment was erected outside King’s College.
The students, joined by staff members, issued a joint statement refusing to accept their universities’ complicity in Israel’s war crimes and demanding divestment from Israeli institutions. They also called for support for Palestinian-led rebuilding of education in Gaza.
Similar pro-Palestine encampments have been set up at universities in Manchester, Sheffield, and Newcastle, showing a growing movement of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The protests at British universities echo demonstrations across the US, with Columbia University even cancelling its main graduation ceremony due to security concerns related to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The students involved in the protests are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and demanding that their universities divest from companies with ties to Israel. Despite facing some violent police action, the students remain committed to their cause and are determined to continue their fight for justice.