Gaza Protesters Establish Camp at Oxbridge While Minister Urges Protection for Jewish Students
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has emphasized the need to protect Jewish students at Oxford and Cambridge universities as activists have established “liberated zones” on both campuses to demonstrate against the conflict in Gaza.
The makeshift camps were set up outside King’s College in Cambridge and in front of the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford on Monday.
In an article in The Telegraph, Keegan stated: “Since the reprehensible attacks on Oct. 7, there has been a significant increase in incidents of antisemitic abuse and intimidation. This is fostering a hostile environment on campus, further escalated by these protests at a critical time when students are facing important exams.”
She further warned: “I unequivocally state that antisemitic abuse and intimidation should not be tolerated on university grounds, and we will not allow Jewish students to endure such treatment.”
“While freedom of speech and expression are crucial in academic settings, they should not be misused to harass, intimidate, or disrupt the essential work of higher education,” she added.
The demonstrators at Oxford and Cambridge are urging the universities to sever all financial connections with Israel, which initiated a ground operation in the Gaza Strip following attacks by Hamas militants.
The health ministry managed by Hamas in Gaza reported that 37,400 Palestinians have died since Oct. 7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his forces will target Hamas militants in Rafah, the sole city in the Gaza Strip not under Israeli control.
Around 100,000 civilians are preparing to flee Rafah after Netanyahu rebuffed calls from U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak not to engage in military actions.
Sunak ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Rafah Attack
In response, Sunak expressed his concern about a potential incursion into Rafah and emphasized the urgency of finding a peaceful solution to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict.
However, the Israeli Defense Forces have assumed control over the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, hinting at a forthcoming offensive.
Meanwhile, in the United States, pro-Palestine demonstrations at Ivy League institutions have resulted in clashes with law enforcement, and in the Netherlands, police apprehended 125 activists as they dispersed an encampment at the University of Amsterdam.
Pro-Palestine protests have surfaced at various universities in the UK, including Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, and SOAS University of London.
Activists claim that the universities implicated have investments in Israeli companies.
In a joint statement, Oxford Action for Palestine and Cambridge for Palestine articulated their refusal to accept the universities’ involvement in Israel’s alleged crimes against Palestinians.
They demand that the universities disclose their assets and divest from companies complicit in Israeli actions within the next five years.
Oxbridge Accused of Complicity in Genocide
Furthermore, Cambridge Jews for Justice in Palestine condemned the universities for profiting from the genocide of Palestinians and demanded an end to such complicity.
Oxford University and Cambridge University stressed their commitment to freedom of expression and speech within legal boundaries and assured the safety of staff and students.
PA Media contributed to this report.
