Australian University Takes Action Against Pro-Palestinian Protesters in Building Occupation

Pro-Palestinian protesters who have taken over a building at the University of Melbourne are being asked to leave by university officials. They have been told that their actions have gone too far as they have entered the building and disrupted classes for numerous students.

In a video message shared with the media on Thursday, Deputy Vice Chancellor Michael Wesley emphasized that while students have the right to protest, there are limits to what is acceptable.

The Arts West building was occupied by them, which has led to the university's patience coming to an end.

On Wednesday, students at the university joined thousands in a nationwide rally to commemorate the 1948 al-Nakba or "catastrophe," when approximately 700,000 Palestinians were forced to leave their homes by armed Jewish groups in order to create the state of Israel.

After the rally, Dana Alshaer from UniMelb for Palestine mentioned that a smaller group of students chose to occupy the Arts West building on their own, with others showing their support.

In the room, various banners have been put up, with one even renaming the building as "Mahmoud's Hall" in honor of Mahmoud Alnaouq. He was a Palestinian student who had received a scholarship to study in Australia, but tragically lost his life in Gaza in October.

Deputy Vice Chancellor Pip Nicholson spoke to the group inside the building around 1:30pm on Wednesday. She used a loudspeaker to address them and emphasized that their choices that afternoon would have “serious consequences.”

In a video shared online, she mentioned that if they were not out of the building within an hour, the university would be forced to make decisions that would unfortunately escalate the tension.

Students renamed the building "Mahmoud's Hall" after a prospective University of Melbourne student, who died in Gaza.

Students renamed the building "Mahmoud's Hall" after a prospective University of Melbourne student, who died in Gaza.

Protesters seen in the video stated that they were determined to stay until the university addressed their requests. These requests consisted of urging the university to stop investing in weapons companies and to speak out against Israel's actions in Gaza.

"We're here in peace," a protester stated off-camera. "Our purpose is to learn, to educate ourselves, to make a difference in the world. The fees we pay are supporting companies involved in genocide. Can you address this issue with us?"

The university reported that over 150 classes had been called off by Thursday, impacting 6,000 students and staff. Victoria Police mentioned they were keeping an eye on the protest but had not been requested to take action.

Alshaer clarified that students did not block the building's doors and mentioned that the university had deactivated them.

According to her, individuals are freely allowing both students and university staff to enter and exit the building at any time. The doors are not shut, nor are they barricaded.

Tension has been increasing after weeks of protest at universities in Australia. It all started over three weeks ago when the first tents popped up on campus. Since then, more and more students have joined the protest, calling for the institutions to sever connections with weapons companies associated with Israel's attacks.

More than 35,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza following Israel's military action against Hamas, which was triggered by an attack on October 7 in southern Israel. Health officials have provided this grim statistic, with the initial Hamas assault resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of around 250 others. Despite Israel's military response, approximately 100 individuals remain in captivity and Hamas leaders are still on the run.

Protests in solidarity with both sides have erupted worldwide, with a significant pro-Palestinian movement organizing demonstrations at various university campuses.

The University of Melbourne says student protesters "crossed a line" by occupying the building.

The University of Melbourne says student protesters "crossed a line" by occupying the building.

Protest sites in Australia have stayed peaceful compared to those in the United States. In the US, police have forcefully removed some students during clashes with counter-protesters.

Other universities in Melbourne and Canberra have instructed students to leave. Protesters at Deakin University revealed on Thursday that they had received a second notice to dismantle their camp, as shared with CNN. The letter warned that not following the instruction could be considered as student misconduct.

Jasmine Duff, a member of Students for Palestine Victoria, informed CNN that the students were determined to stay put. "We are not going to follow the university's orders because they are making money from weapons research while a genocide is happening," she explained.

At Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, seven student protesters have been asked to leave the site by the end of Friday. The university sent letters to the students, mentioning concerns about the impact of the protest on the wellbeing and safety of the university community without providing specific details.

ANU expressed its support for students' right to protest, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that these activities are conducted safely and without causing harm or damage to the campus or community.

Nick Reich, one of the recipients of the letter, mentioned that he and others are currently considering their options.

He mentioned that a decision needs to be made regarding our level of involvement in the protests against the university's investments in arms companies supplying Israel. Despite this, he assured that the encampment will persist and the fight will continue.

In a video message shared by the University of Melbourne, Wesley urged protesters to peacefully bring an end to the occupation.

"He stated that red lines have been crossed. The occupation has become significantly disruptive and intimidating for most of our staff and students who are not involved in the protests and have no interest in them."

Editor's P/S:

The University of Melbourne's decision to evict pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied a building on campus highlights the growing tensions surrounding the