UK universities witness a wave of pro-Palestinian protests, with students demanding divestment from companies linked to the Gaza conflict. Chancellor Rishi Sunak schedules a summit to address the situation and the rising concerns of antisemitism.
At Columbia University, approximately 200 students gathered to protest in support of pro-Palestinian causes and demanded that the university divest from companies allegedly supporting Israeli actions in Gaza. The protest, chiefly organized by 19-year-old students, led to a confrontation with authorities, resulting in over 100 students being arrested after negotiations with university officials failed. The police response was condemned by some as overly aggressive.
In the UK, the pro-Palestinian protest movement has spread to major universities including Oxford and Cambridge. Students at these institutions erected encampments and held signs supporting Palestine, directly appealing to their universities to disclose and divest from any investments related to the conflict in Gaza. The student group “Cambridge for Palestine” was particularly active, organizing a march and setting up camp on university property.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has responded by planning a summit with university heads to discuss the situation, including the impact of these demonstrations and concerns related to antisemitism. The UK student protests are part of a wider series of demonstrations at universities such as Goldsmiths, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Warwick, Newcastle, and Sheffield, showing the growing resonance of the Gaza conflict within academic settings.
