Senate House has now been declared a liberated zone, alongside Kanafani House (formerly known as Greenwich House).

In the early hours of Wednesday, November 27, Cambridge University students erected tents on the Senate lawn, where graduations take place, and declared it a liberated zone for Palestine.

The Cambridge Instagram account for Palestine said that this occurred “in response to the University of Cambridge’s refusal to take meaningful steps to divest from the genocide and occupation of Palestine.”

The group also took over Kanafani House (formerly Greenwich House), claiming it as another vacated area on Friday 22 November, and expanded to occupy the entire building on Friday 29 November. In a statement Posted Friday morning, the students said that “we have intensified our action and expanded it to the entire Kanafani House building. This community will continue to grow and intensify until our demands are met.”

On Instagram, a collaborative post between @camjews4justice, @cambridgeforpalestine, @cambridgepalsoc and other collaborators announces an “Urgent Call to Action”, encouraging Cambridge University students to write to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deborah Prentice, and other members of the University. Council, in solidarity with student camps.

In a statement Published on the morning of Friday 29 November, the Cambridge Student Union expressed “its support for Cambridge’s goals for Palestine” and “calls on the University to urgently take responsibility, honor its commitments and meaningfully engage in constructive dialogue with students.” .

They also call on the university to “recognize and condemn the crisis in Palestine in accordance with international law”, “ensure fair representation in discussions on divestment” and “conduct an immediate review and disclosure of the investments of the “university in financially and professionally complicit companies”. in the current crisis in Palestine, including the production of weapons.

Cambridge for Palestine revealed that following these protests, “two university administrators (…) unexpectedly contacted the working group” on Thursday, November 28, “urgently requesting a meeting on Friday morning, despite their refusal to meet C4P representatives earlier.” this week.”

This happened after “Cambridge University trustees canceled the only planned meeting with the Cambridge Working Group for Palestine (C4P)” on Monday 25 November. However, recent updates from Friday evening made it clear that “Cambridge has suspended all negotiations with the C4P working group.”

Image credit: Anna Mardling

Senate House is usually the venue for graduations in Cambridge and hundreds of graduations were due to take place here on Saturday 29 November. However, the graduation ceremony was moved to Great Saint Mary’s Church, which is opposite the Senate House. In response to this, @cambridgeforpalestine organized a rally tomorrow, declaring that “there is no normal during genocide.”

Cambridge for Palestine, the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Students’ Union have been contacted for comment.