UK: Pro-Palestine student groups form network after encampments

A coalition of 15 student organisations across the UK has launched a new network aimed at challenging the complicity of universities in Israel's war on Gaza.

The Student Federation for a Liberated Palestine (SFLP), launched on Friday, consists of pro-Palestinian societies and groups from universities nationwide, many of which organised student encampments in April and May.

"For over three months, encampments for Palestine have been established on dozens of campuses, as university students have battled for institutional divestment," the network announced.

"This wave of coordinated solidarity has led to the birth of a new organisation - a national network of student coalitions, collectively committed to dismantling the complicity of their academic institutions in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people."

The network's manifesto accuses British universities of being "deeply and actively complicit in the occupation of Palestine, the subjugation of Palestinians and the genocide in Gaza".

The manifesto outlines four main goals for the federation: "dismantling the institutional complicity" of universities, resisting the repression of student activism, developing pro-Palestinian activism across campuses and building connections with "Palestinian solidarity movements across the country and the rest of the world".

The network has also endorsed the al-Thawabit al-Wataniyya, the principles outlined by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1977. These principles affirm the right of Palestinians to resist, pursue self-determination and support the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

Pro-Gaza student encampments

Earlier this year, 35 pro-Gaza encampments were held at British universities, witnessing both significant successes and facing severe crackdowns.

Among the successes were Swansea University's decision to divest from Barclays and the resignation of a vice-chancellor. However, the encampments also faced challenges, including police arrests and court-ordered evictions.

In late July, the University of Cambridge announced it would review its approach to “responsible investment” in response to a months-long student encampment at the university.

This announcement came after Middle East Eye reported in May that the council of Trinity College, Cambridge's wealthiest constituent college, voted to divest from all arms companies but later decided not to announce the decision.

Trinity College declined to confirm or deny this decision in response to multiple requests for comment in May.