Pro-Palestine protesters occupy historic building

Hundreds of students have had their end-of-year exams disrupted after pro-Palestine protesters occupied a 129-year-old university building.

Several dozen activists, who had set up a solidarity camp at the University of Manchester, barricaded themselves inside the historic Whitworth Hall over the bank holiday weekend.

Sue, 22, a final year politics student and spokesman for Manchester Left Action that organised the occupation, said they launched the sit-in protest on Friday night after chiefs at the institution refused to negotiate with their demands.

These include a requirement for the university to end its partnership with weapons manufacturer BAE Systems and to cut ties with higher education centres in Israel.

Protesters said they have enough food and water to go on for the “foreseeable future”, which meant “multiple days” of exams would be disrupted.

The action comes just days after world leaders condemned an Israeli missile strike that killed 45 people in the city of Rafah including women and children.

She said: “The university had every chance to de-escalate this and not create this situation.

“We gave them a warning if they did not open negotiations, there would be an escalation... they continued not to make the choice to act and not to open negotiations.

“The university has made this situation. So they failed their students on that.

“We have plenty of supplies and food and water, so the occupation will continue for the foreseeable future.

“It now means that multiple days of exams will be disrupted. It’s a significant number.”

A large Palestinian flag was seen hanging from the hall’s balcony on Tuesday morning.

A University of Manchester spokesman said no action by staff or the police had been taken so far to evict students.

They said: “On the evening of Monday 27 May 2024, a large demonstration occurred on campus, which included members of the public, as well as some of our students.

“Greater Manchester Police were in attendance, as is standard procedure for large protests.

“Despite claims made on social media, no action has been taken to remove those occupying Whitworth Hall, by either our Campus Support and Security staff or Greater Manchester Police.”

“We have written to the individuals occupying the Whitworth Hall complex, requesting that they vacate the premises to allow student exams to proceed as planned. Unfortunately, they have refused.

“As a result, we are now activating our well-established exam contingency plans, but it is deeply disappointing that their actions are directly impacting on what is already, for all those undertaking assessments at present, one of the most intense periods in the academic year.”

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.

It came as pro-Palestine protests took place in cities across Britain in response to Israel’s attack on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah.

Thousands staged demonstrations against Sunday’s air strike on the Tel al-Sultan shelter.

Many had fled to the so called “safe zone” after being evacuated from the east of the Gazan city by the Israel Defense Forces.

The bombing triggered global protests and calls from world leaders and senior Israeli officials to end the fighting.

Hundreds of Pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central Manchester on Monday. The crowd was heard calling for a ceasefire and chanting “end occupation now”.

The group marched to Burnley Library Peace Gardens where they listened to speakers talk about the ongoing conflict.

A crowd carrying Palestine flags with some wearing the green bibs of the Friends of al-Aqsa human rights movement were seen marching through the town.

Friends of al-Aqsa called for an emergency demonstration outside Downing Street in London

Posting on social media, it said: “Let’s mobilise for an emergency rally for Rafah. We have all seen the horrific videos. Spread the word and let’s make it a huge emergency rally for Rafah. Stop the Genocide.”

On May 8, the UN said the Gaza health ministry, which is run by Hamas, had identified 25,000 dead people, including 4,959 women and 7,797 children since the Oct 7 attacks on Israel.

The ministry said there are a further 10,000 corpses, but has not been able to secure information to meet its standard for identification, which includes full names and official ID numbers.

The recent air strikes came after a ruling by the International Court of Justice that Israel must cease its military offensive in Rafah.

Israel admitted there had been civilian casualties in Rafah but said its forces were aiming at a Hamas compound, killing two senior commanders.

On Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament: “In Rafah, we evacuated a million uninvolved residents and, despite our best efforts, a tragic accident happened yesterday.”

He said an investigation was under way.