Why Cambridge Students are Questioning University’s Ties with Israel
Dozens of students camped at King’s College within the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s leading higher education institutions, to protest Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
While their peers were detained by violent police raids on many university campuses in the USA, images of students studying at protest camps in Cambridge caught the eye.
A library was also created for students and visitors to benefit from in the area full of Palestinian flags and banners with messages such as “Get away from the genocide”.
Professors visit this area regularly, where they discuss with students the colonial activities of Israeli settlers and other forms of oppression by Israel.
Like their peers around the world, Cambridge’s protesting students called for their school to sever all financial ties with Israel and made their demands directly to the vice-chancellor for education, Bhaskar Vira, on Tuesday (7 May).
“Why is Cambridge, which previously cut ties with Russia, reluctant now?”
Mahmoud Atallah, a spokesman for the Cambridge movement for Palestine, said they came together to pressure the university to disclose and sever any ties it has with organizations linked to “genocide”.
Stating that the fact that more than 200 faculty members signed the open letter they prepared shows that they have serious academic support, Atallah said, “The university has decided to declare its financial and professional support for Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and withdraw this support, to reinvest in academics affected by the genocide and “We will continue as long as Turkey refuses to protect all forcibly displaced immigrants and protesting students.” he said.
A protesting student, who did not want to give his name, reminded that Cambridge University broke off relations with Russia when Russia invaded Ukraine and asked: “Cambridge broke its ties before, why is it reluctant now (about Israel)?” he said.
Reminding that the university is also committed to staying away from fossil fuels, the student shared his opinion: “The ties between Cambridge and companies actively participating in the genocide against Palestinians are absolutely unacceptable.”
Jewish Cambridge students who refused to remain silent against Israel’s actions in Gaza also said that they attended the camp to oppose what was done.
A Jewish student who did not want to share his name said, “We are here because we cannot stand this genocide committed in our name. We do not accept it, we do not support it.” he said.
In Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 34 thousand 789 Palestinians, including at least 14 thousand 944 children and 9 thousand 849 women, were killed and 78 thousand 204 people were injured.
While it is reported that there are still thousands of dead under the rubble, civilian infrastructure is also being destroyed by targeting hospitals and educational institutions where people took shelter.
