Hundreds of staff and students attended a pro-Palestine protest in Edinburgh on October 7th.
Students and staff gathered outside Edinburgh University’s Main Library, waving Palestinian flags and holding placards bearing pro-Palestinian slogans, such as “block everything” and “stop the genocide.” They were also heard chanting: “killing children is a crime, free Palestine.”
The day marked two years since the October 7th attacks, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people. Since then, 66,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, have been killed by Israel’s military response in Gaza.
Protestors shouted “shame,” and called for an end to the war in Gaza. Members of the crowd also called upon Edinburgh University to divest from companies they claim are contributing to Israel’s military efforts.
Protestors were seen gathered outside the university’s Main Library.
In an email to students before October 7th, Sir Peter Mathieson said: “I appeal to members of our community, irrespective of their race, religion, nationality or beliefs, to think carefully about their actions, their motivations and the effect that they might have on other members of our community.”
The protest was organised by the Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society (EUJPS). In a statement on October 7th, the society said: “Today, the Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Peter Mathieson, sent an email to the student body encouraging students to ‘think carefully’ about attending our rally tomorrow. Discouraging students from exercising their right to protest on day 731 of genocide is a blatant attempt to suppress campus discourse on an ongoing genocide.
“Let us be clear: campus protests are a direct result of Peter Mathieson’s investments in companies funding the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Not – as Peter claims – because we ‘glorify acts of gratuitous violence against innocents.’ We suggest that if Peter genuinely seeks to ‘advocate for peace and harmony’ he should start with his own wallet.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “un-British to have little respect for others” by staging demonstrations on the anniversary, adding protests had been used by some as a “despicable excuse to attack British Jews.”
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Shadow Lord Chancellor Robert Jenrick responsed to the multiple student protests happening on October 7th. He said: “There are protests being scheduled in universities for October 7. I think that’s a fucking disgrace, frankly. Absolute disgrace. I would say to the people thinking of doing that: show some common decency. This is not Britain. Britain is better than that. Think of British Jews, people who might be fearful and lonely and afraid right now, and call off those protests.”
The EUJPS, Prime Minister, and Robert Jenrick have been contacted for comment.
