Security guards forced a premature end to an emotionally charged student protest held in solidarity for Gaza, in the Picton Room at Penrhyn Road. 

The 40 postgraduates and undergraduates were told to end their peaceful campaign and leave the building or face arrest on January 22.

President of the University’s Arabic Society and one of the leaders of the campaign, Amany Mahfouz, said: “It didn’t work out well because security with no right had threatened to get students arrested if they did not leave campus.  People were very angry and were determined to make a stand on solidarity with the people of Gaza and help them in any way possible and get their voices heard.”

Mahfouz, of Egyptian descent, has lodged a complaint to the University and started collecting signatures to put forward a pro-Gaza proposal at the next Annual General Meeting in continued support of the crisis.

A Kingston University spokesperson who described the demonstration as “peaceful” said: “Kingston University respects the rights of staff and students to hold peaceful protests, however, such demonstrations need to be arranged with the University to ensure that they do not cause disruption or undue convenience to other members of the University.”

However, the spokesperson added that with many of the civilian casualties occurring in educational establishments, Kingston University is committed to the right to education and encourages freedom of speech. 

The campaign, which lasted one day, is one of many student protests that have since been held across other UK universities including the London School of Economics (LSE), Sussex, Warwick, Newcastle, Oxford, Cambridge, Essex, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham and Newcastle. 

Although short lived, the occupation has sparked more passion towards their cause with flags and posters stating “Freedom for Palestine” in Arabic and English being put up around campus.   Mahfouz added: “The atmosphere was great, people were very supportive”. 

Rev. Stan Brown, Kingston University’s Chaplain who has recently been asked to develop a humanitarian response within the university, said: “At the moment I’m just consulting with some of the interested parties. 

“The demonstrators did meet with two senior University managers, and I think this shows just how seriously the institution listens to the voices and concerns of its students.  There is, however, a concern for balance – the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is real and urgent, but tragically so are many other situations in the world today and I hope that we can find ways of making our concerns and responses as inclusive as possible.”

Israel ended a three week military campaign in Gaza on January 18. About 1,300 Gazans were killed, about a third of them civilians, 13 Israelis were killed, 10 of them soldiers. 

Proposals set forward by occupation, Amany Mahfouz:

1 - Amnesty from punishment for all those involved in the occupation including to and from the occupation area.

2- The university releases a statement condemning the actions of Israel against the people of Gaza.

3- The university sends medical aid via Interpal.

4- The university sends old computers and books to help re-build Gaza University.

5- The university organises fundraising day/week for the people of Gaza also Via Interpal independant of the universitys own donation.

Read The River for Ben Ashwell's Comments on the increase in student protests 

Picture credit: Sipa Press/ Rex Features