Pro-Palestinian activists agree to end occupation of Warwick University building after 13 days

University of Warwick protesters have ended their 13-day occupation of Warwick Manufacturing Group’s (WMG) International Digital Laboratory after administrators agreed to begin negotiations over divestment demands from Israel.

Organizers from the pro-Palestinian group Warwick Stands With Palestine had previously taken over the building by “barricading” the entrance and exits. The group claims it had “consistent refusals” to renegotiate from university management for 60 days and 9 months of campaigning before.

They also claim the reversal comes as a “victory that indicates the strength of their “pressure-driven campaign” and the “determination of the student movement” at Warwick to “fight for justice”. A spokesman said the university was “looking to engage in dialogue with Warwick Stands With Palestine”.

Read more: Godiva Festival act pulls out days before event due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

Read more: Aldi’s £5 school uniform bundle is back, but Specialbuy shoppers need to hurry

A student from the cross-campus coalition, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “For the past 13 days, our occupation has halted business as usual for WMG, a department heavily complicit in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza due to their academic and research partnerships with the arms manufacturers that supply Israel’s criminal army.

“By operating 300 office desks for two full work weeks and disrupting other WMG buildings with frequent protests, we have struck at the heart of campus militarism.”

Another occupant added: “It’s absurd that we’ve had to go to such lengths to establish a line of communication, but we’re happy to finally enter into this dialogue. This occupation is a clear demonstration that creating pressure through direct action is an effective tool in forcing institutional change.”

In a statement on X, Warwick Stands With Palestine today (1 July) wrote: “To hold such a large and important building for 2 weeks is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the strength and determination of the student movement at Warwick and beyond to fight. for justice.

“Our occupation and subsequent victory was the culmination of a year of mounting pressure from students and staff and guides us with hope and determination forward.

“Our coalition has not been deterred by the University’s prolonged refusal to engage with us; although it took 9 months of campaigning, 60 days of encampment and 13 days of occupation, we are more determined than ever to fulfill all our demands in their entirety”.

Warwick Stands With Palestine also says that if negotiations fail, the group is prepared to use “similar protest tactics” to ensure their four demands are met: to condemn, commit , to expose and protect.

This includes condemning the actions of the Israeli government, pledging to protect Palestinian students on campus, protecting students who protest for their right to “freedom of speech”, rebuilding Palestinian universities and providing scholarships.

According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, 37,877 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at approximately 1,139. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 553 people were killed in the occupied West Bank, including 137 children.

In addition, the BBC reported that an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in Rafah, which resulted in the rescue of four hostages, killed 274 people, including children and other civilians. The BBC also reported that 125 Israeli civilian hostages who were taken in the October 7 attack remain unaccounted for, at least 37 of whom are presumed dead.

Get daily headlines and breaking news delivered to you by email – it’s FREE