Supporter-Palestine The protesters have camped outside University College London ,ucl) in the latest action by activists outside universities Across the country.
It came as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak backed police action at any protests that turned hostile or anti-Semitic.
inspired by protests Similar actions across the United States Thousands of college students from New York to Los Angeles have been arrested for camping.
UCL protesters have said they are in favor of a longer fight as they have appealed for supplies on social media.
they have joined a Number of tent camps At the universities of Bristol, Manchester and Warwick. At Goldsmiths, another London university, students forced their way into the college library earlier this week to protest the war in Gaza.
Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said on Thursday that it was important that freedom of expression be protected, but it was also important that Jewish students do not feel unsafe.
This came as the Union of Jewish Students released a statement in which they said Jewish students were angry, tired and hurt by the “continuous torrent of anti-Semitic hatred” since the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
A spokesman for Mr Sunak said: “The police already have broad public order powers to deal with disorder at protests and they will continue to have our full support in doing so if needed.”
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A banner was hoisted in the middle of the square which read: “UCL students against massacre.”
On Friday, dozens of people joined a pro-Palestinian rally outside along with Ghassan Abu Sitta, a British-Palestinian plastic surgeon who recently spent time speaking in Gaza hospitals.
It is believed that about a dozen protesters are involved in the cantonment itself. A local report said the students had said they “plan to stay here for a long time until their demands are met”.
A spokesperson for the UCL camp said middle east eye They were prepared to continue their protest until the university disassociated itself from Israeli institutions “that profit from the war in Gaza.”
A UCL spokesperson said they were “speaking to the organisers” of the protest and were “monitoring the situation carefully”.
“We will manage this in line with our legal duty and commitment to promoting freedom of expression within the law, while ensuring the safety of our community and enabling us to continue our education and research activity,” the spokesperson said.
Wire A Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group van carrying three officers arrived at the university campus on Friday lunchtime and left a few minutes later, the report said.
when contacted IndependentThe Metropolitan Police said nothing significant had been marked.
This is not the first time UCL students have launched a protest against the war in Gaza.
Last month, students secured a meeting with UCL’s provost to demand scholarships for Palestinian students from Gaza, end UCL’s partnership with Tel Aviv University, and call on UCL to break its arms embargo. A lecture theater was occupied for 34 days. Companies.
The latest protests have caused some concern among the Jewish community in London.
The UK charity Campaign Against Antisemitism called for “strong action” against protesters, and said it was “pathetic” to allow the protests to take place.