Birmingham becomes first UK university to threaten pro-Palestinian students with arrest if they don’t shut down US-style camp as protests spread across campuses

• Protesters pitching tents have been told to end the “offense” immediately.
• Pro-Palestine camps have been set up in 20 UK universities

Birmingham has become the first British university to threaten students with arrest or legal action if they do not shut down their American-style, anti-Israel camp.

The university’s director of legal services accused those who participated in the protests of trespassing and asked them to leave immediately.

letter written by Dr Nicola Cardenos Blanco was handed out to students on Friday, less than 24 hours after the demonstration of ‘solidarity’ was set up on the university’s main campus in Edgbaston.

So far, 20 pro-Palestinian camps have been set up at some of Britain’s most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge – with the latest in Birmingham.

The new letter comes after Birmingham vice-chancellor Professor Adam Tickell canceled a meeting with pro-Palestinian protesters scheduled for Tuesday and said he would not be willing to talk to them until the camp was dismantled.

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Dr Blanco’s message to students read: “The University of Birmingham confirms that it does not give you permission to protest at The Green Heart or any other part of the Edgbaston campus (headquarters), which is private land.

— Your occupation of the Headquarters is a violation. The University asks you to leave the premises immediately.

“Otherwise, the University will take legal action and/or report your violation to law enforcement officials without further notice.”

In a separate email to staff, Professor Tickell said: “You may be aware that a small group of tents has been set up on Green Heart by people protesting in support of Palestine.

“We have written before about how we will support students and staff who want to take part in protests about issues they care deeply about.

“However, this does not extend to pitching tents on University property where there is no authority or permission to do so.

“Unfortunately (I) had to inform the students (I) will not be meeting with them while the camp is in place.”

Student activists from universities across the country have vowed to sleep in tents on private university property until authorities agree to their long list of demands, which include condemning the “genocide” in Gaza and providing scholarships to Palestinians.

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They were inspired and supported by their American counterparts, where over 1,000 students were arrested by the police.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, speaking in Parliament earlier this month, warned protesters that they would face “an extremely stern response” if they tried to replicate what she called the “disgusting” scenes taking place in the US.

Organizers here insisted the protests would remain peaceful as they spread to more universities in the coming days and weeks.

Jewish and Israeli students have repeatedly stressed that they feel “threatened” and “terrified” by the camps, which they claim are pro-war and pro-violence.

They argue that calls for “Intifada” which translates to riot and chants like “From the river to the sea” are implicitly violent and call for the death of Jews and the destruction of Israel.

This slogan is a reference to the land between the Jordan River, which borders Israel to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

A file obtained by the Mail lists a number of other problematic incidents in different camps, including a 19-year-old Jewish student who was violently pushed in Cambridge and a Leeds woman who accused Jewish students of liking “dead babies”.

Many UK university leaders have decided not to take any action against the protesters, despite pressure from Rishi Sunak, who warned that vice-chancellors have a “moral duty” to protect Jewish students.

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Dave, a final year Jewish science student at the University of Birmingham, said: “The camp outside the library serves as a loud, distracting and intimidating reminder of the fear many Jews have for our friends and family in the region.

“It doesn’t influence university policy – it bothers a lot of students who just want to pass their exams.”

In a statement, the University of Birmingham said: “A small group of tents has been set up on campus by people protesting in support of Palestine.

“The university is functioning normally, exams and other activities are continuing as planned.

“The University of Birmingham recognizes that students will want to take part in protests about issues they care deeply about.

“There are many ways this can be done legally, and the profile of a case is high.”

The university said the Free Speech Code of Practice sets out how it supports authorized demonstrations – but insisted this “does not include setting up tents on university property where there is no permission or authority to do so”.

Birmingham said it was “monitoring the situation to ensure safety and minimize disruption, including for students currently studying and taking exams” – and urged protesters to “respect this too”.

The statement added: “Our university community includes staff, students and visitors from a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs.

“Everyone has the right to conduct their business safely and without intimidation or harassment, and we will not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

“We hold regular talks with a range of student and staff representatives to hear their views and make sure they feel supported.

“We have a wide range of support available to students and staff.”