Yahoo News University of Liverpool students call for Gaza ceasefire during Palestine protest
A protest camp calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and freedom for Palestine has sprung up at the University of Liverpool.
It follows reports that more than 35,000 people have been killed and 80,000 wounded on the Gaza Strip during seven months of airstrikes by Israeli forces.
The action, in Abercromby Square, was inspired by the University of Colorado in America, where student-led demonstrations calling for a free Palestine have been ongoing for several weeks - despite police attempts to break up the encampment. Similar student camps have appeared at other universities across Britain, including Oxford and Cambridge.
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Protesters have unofficially renamed the area "Alareer Square" in honour of Refaat Alareer, a Palestinian university professor, poet and activist who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza on December 6 2023.
In a statement, they said: "We stand against universities being complicit in genocide. We exist as part of the global Palestinian Resistance that rejects all forms of the marketisation, colonisation and militarisation of education. As a political movement, we fully support the principles of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions being used against the Zionist entity. It is imperative that all universities fully engage in cutting all of their ties with the Zionist entity.
"We are a coalition of different groups and organisations working together, solely committed to furthering the Palestinian cause. It is the duty of all students to take a stance against human rights violations and recognise the intersectionality of the Palestinian struggle with the struggle of all oppressed people in the world.
"As students we are part of an institution complicit in the genocide, apartheid, occupation of the Palestinian people and it is our duty to act against the Zionist entity. We encourage all people to take initiatives in the movement ahead of us. We operate as a democracy where decisions are made collectively.
They added: "We oppose all forms of discrimination. This includes but is not limited to discriminating someone by their: age, body size, disability, gender or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, maternity, nationality, language, physical appearance, pregnancy, race, religion or belief system, sex, or sexuality. Behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated in our encampment."
Students have issued a list of five demands to both the Government and the university. These include:
A full financial and cultural boycott and divestment from Israel, in-line with the recent referendum results on BDS, the official Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. This includes "an immediate priority on ending research ties with companies directly involved in the oppression of Palestinians or in war crimes and human rights violations".
That the University of Liverpool recognises South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice - which ruled Palestinians had a "plausible right" to be protected from genocide under the Genocide Convention - and calls for an immediate ceasefire.
That the University of Liverpool investigates how its research has been used in genocide, and proportionally offers Palestinian scholarships and assistance in rebuilding Palestinian educational infrastructure which has been destroyed
That the university discloses its investments and spending to students, staff and faculty on a quarterly basis.
That no one will suffer any detriment to their employment or education for participating in the encampment.
A statement from the University of Liverpool read: "A small group of people are occupying Abercromby Square in protest of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. This follows similar events on university campuses in the UK and US over the past few days and weeks. The surrounding area and University buildings remain open and fully operational at this time.
"The continuing violence and loss of life in Israel and Gaza is horrifying. We sincerely hope for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The University remains focused on offering practical assistance to all those in our community who are impacted and to anyone who needs support. Over the past few months, we have met with staff and students to discuss issues and concerns and we are liaising with colleagues in other university communities nationally, to share best practice and ideas to provide support for all.
"The University of Liverpool unequivocally supports the right to participate in lawful, peaceful protest and Campus Support colleagues are monitoring the situation on Abercromby Square to ensure the safety of the protestors. We are also working to minimise disruption, particularly at this important time of year when many students are taking exams and assessments.
"Academic freedom, freedom of speech and teaching our students to think critically and debate difficult issues, are principles at the very heart of the work that universities carry out. We know that there are very different views on this conflict within our diverse community of staff and students. It is enormously important – and central to our institutional values – that everyone can debate issues freely, however difficult and divisive the subject matter. It is equally important that this is done with mutual respect for differences in opinion and within the parameters of the law."
People gathered outside Liverpool Lime Street station for a last-minute protest yesterday, May 7, after Israel's forces began bombing Rafah, where 1.5m Palestinians are currently sheltering after being forced to leave their homes due to airstrikes.
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