Hundreds of students and staff at the University of Edinburgh have defied calls not to hold pro-Palestine protests on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
Crowds of demonstrators gathered outside the universityâs main library on George Square on Tuesday afternoon.
Many were carrying Palestine flags and placards with pro-Palestine slogans, and some had their faces covered with keffiyeh scarves.
They were addressed by speakers and were led in English and Arabic chanting to the sound of drums, before marching up to Bristow Square and on to the universityâs Old College, where further chanting and speeches took place.
Participants shouted the word âshameâ and cheered at intervals as the speakers called for an end to the ongoing conflict and for the university to cut its ties with firms they said are linked to Israelâs ongoing military operation in Gaza.
Protesters also rejected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmerâs assertion that holding a protest on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks was âun-Britishâ and that it showed âlittle respect for othersâ.
Asked for her comments on Sir Keirâs words, Sara Al Disi, 32, told the PA news agency: âWe are protesting the violence thatâs actually been enacted on the Palestinian people.
âThe (Manchester) synagogue attack, itâs a very horrific thing, and itâs actually very scandalous that the media and the politicians are using it to suppress pro-Palestine activism, because itâs not the same thing.
âTheyâre trying to equate antisemitism and anti-Zionism. And I think a lot of people just donât believe that any more. It does not wash.â
This was echoed by a student who wished to remain anonymous, who said the calls not to protest reflected a âpattern of conflating legitimate criticism of the political decisions Israel is making with antisemitismâ.
He went on: âSaying that itâs inappropriate to condemn Israelâs genocide against Palestine on the anniversary of when it was initiated, to say that thatâs inappropriate to do on this date, is to somehow imply that criticising Israel or holding it accountable for its policies is antisemitic, which I very much disagree with.
âI think (that) is a way thatâs being used to try to silence people from criticising what Israel is doing and prevent them from speaking out.
âThe UKâs military, political, diplomatic and economic support for Israel needs to immediately be stopped, because the United Kingdom is currently one of the core pillars of support for one of the most atrocious political events thatâs ever happened in my lifetime.â
In a letter to students ahead of the protest, University of Edinburgh principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said: âI 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.
âOur community should not attempt to justify or glorify acts of gratuitous violence against innocents. It is important that anyone participating in demonstrations against what is happening in Gaza does not fall into this trap.â
Protests were also held at other universities on Tuesday, including the University of Strathclyde, the University of Sheffield and Kingâs College London.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, urged students and staff participating in protests to remember that October 7 is âthe anniversary of an atrocious attack on innocent people and that expressing support for a terrorist organisation is a criminal offenceâ.
Ms Stern added that Universities UK has signposted resources to help universities combat antisemitism.
