Pro-Palestinian encampments have been established at the prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England, as students advocate for the severance of ties with Israel. Images shared on social media depict multiple tents set up outside the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, a prominent landmark situated on the campus.
The Oxford Action for Palestine campaign group disclosed that they initiated the encampment at 4 a.m. on Monday, deliberately selecting the museum to signify Oxford's connection to colonial projects. A banner at the encampment entrance displays a list of demands from student protesters, including the disclosure of university finances, divestment from Israeli businesses, revision of the university's investment policy, and backing for Palestinian-led reconstruction of educational facilities in Gaza.
In a statement, the students expressed, 'We are here after exhausting every other means of protest at our disposal. We have organized demonstrations and marches and made all possible efforts to work with the Administration to realize our demands. We have been met with inaction.' The group also declared their solidarity with students globally, mentioning institutions from CUNY to UCLA, Trinity College to Sciences Po.
Similarly, students at Cambridge initiated an encampment on Monday on the grounds outside King's College in the city center. The encampment is orchestrated by the group 'Cambridge for Palestine,' which is urging the university to 'disclose and divest from its financial and professional support for Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.'
