Cambridge for Palestine occupy university administrative building

They have accused the university of breaking its pledge to cut arms investments

2 hours ago

On the evening of Friday 22nd November, Pro-Palestinian group Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) announced that they had occupied Greenwich House.

Greenwich House houses many of the administrative functions of the university, including the Estates Divison, Human Resources and Finance.

In an Instagram post announcing the action, the Cambridge for Palestine stated that their occupation is in response to the “university’s continued complicity in the Gaza genocide”, and its “breaking” of the pledges it made to the group last summer.

The group repeated their call for “an immediate end to our university’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide, occupation, and ethnic cleansing of Palestine”.

Along with their occupation, Cambridge for Palestine have published three demands of the university: that it “immediately and publicly condemn this genocide”, that they “meet with all 12 elected members of the task force and accpt a chair that we select”, and that “the University immediately carry out an aggregate analysis of its investments”.

This come after Cambridge for Palestine accused the university of “breaking” its pledge to review its arms investments last summer.

It was the university’s pledge to review its arms investments which prompted Cambridge for Palestine to close its encampment on King’s Parade last July.

The encampment on King’s Parade last May (Image Credit: Iris Rodgers)

The university’s statement last summer, entitled ‘Upholding our values’, stated that Cambridge would “commit to working with” a “Task Force” and a “Working Group”, “to review our approach to responsible investment”, and that the university would commit to “reviewing the guidelines that inform academic and industry research ties and collaborations with companies including those falling within the arms/defence category”.

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However, on 15th November Cambridge for Palestine accused the university of “breaking” this agreement and using “weaponised bureaucracy to reduce student power”.

Cambridge for Palestine claim that the university have “erased any mention of Palestine in divestment conversations” and “stalled serious commitments”.

They have criticised the inclusion of just two student members in the university’s Working Group, contrary to the initial inclusion of six, claiming that this is “creating a power dynamic that isolates and intimidates student representatives”.

The group have also accused the university of having a “disregard” for the urgency of the conflict in Gaza, as “the working group has yet to meet” despite the fact that “the University committed to starting work over the summer”.

Cambridge for Palestine have since held an “emergency support rally” on Saturday 23rd November, while the occupation of Greenwich House remains ongoing.

The University of Cambridge have been approached for comment

Featured image credits: Middle East Eye YouTube