Pro-Palestinian Protest Camp at ANU Dissolves After Nearly Four Months
The protest was the longest running encampment in the country.
Pro-Palestine activists at the Australian National University (ANU) have finally removed their lengthy 110-day encampment.
The protest was the longest-running across Australian campuses and received support from Greens Senators Mehreen Faruqi and David Shoebridge.
“For 110 days, the ANU Gaza Solidarity Encampment has been a physical presence, reminding the ANU that its staff and students want full divestment from the so-called state of Israel. This makes us the longest ongoing Gaza Solidarity Encampment in so-called Australia,” the group wrote in a statement.
While the statement did not mention Israel specifically, the pro-Palestinian activists claimed credit for the policy change, but said it was not enough.
“Our movement has always called for full and immediate divestment from the state of Israel as well as the military-industrial complex which enables its ongoing occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people. This is what we will continue to do,” the students said.
The encampment was part of a wider movement across the Western world following the surprise Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed 1,200 people and captured 250 hostages.
More than 40,000 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza since Israeli military reprisals.
![Damaged and burnt cars in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, as seen in an aerial view taken on Oct. 17, 2023 .(Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F02%2Fid5678524-GettyImages-1729726013KO.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Damaged and burnt cars in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, as seen in an aerial view taken on Oct. 17, 2023 .Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
University Welcomes Decision
In a statement provided to the Epoch Times, ANU said the decision to disband the encampment was voluntary.
“The safety of our community and our campus has been our priority throughout this process. The encampment raised several issues relating to safety and respectful conduct.”
ANU said it understood the ongoing conflict in Gaza was causing distress for many, noting that help was available via its Student Safety and Wellbeing team, and Employee Assistance Program.
![The logo of the Australian National University (ANU) is seen on a building at the campus in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 16, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F04%2F28%2F20200916001490950910-minihighres.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The logo of the Australian National University (ANU) is seen on a building at the campus in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 16, 2020. AAP Image/Lukas Coch
Greens Back Protest
Greens Senator David Shoebridge praised the encampment.
He said it was “not that radical” to ask universities to divest from weapons companies.
Jewish Group Says Encampment Fostered Hate
However, the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has accused the encampment of fostering “Jew Hatred” and being “anti-Jewish.”
The AJA said it received complaints from Jewish students about alleged verbal abuse, bullying, and the use of the Nazi salute back in May.
Protest Subject of Senate Hearing
Some messages read, “If you are not with Palestine, you are a psychopath,” and “Zionism is terrorism,” along with a flag of the Star of David with a big red line through it.
The Liberal senator recounted that one student told her the stickers “seem to be everywhere.”
In response, ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell said, “Senator, those are stickers that we would attempt to take down because we would see them as being hateful.”