In the heart of London's academic quarter, a storm is brewing. The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), known for its diverse student body and focus on global issues, finds itself at the center of controversy as it grapples with an anti-Israel encampment that has spiraled beyond its control.
The sprawling occupation in Bloomsbury, which began as a student protest in early May, has become a hotbed of tension. Last week, seven camp members were arrested on suspicion of drug possession, assaulting an emergency worker, and obstructing police. This incident seems to have been the tipping point for university officials.
"The situation is now of sufficient concern that we can no longer guarantee the safety of our students and staff," SOAS stated, describing the encampment as "unmanageable." The university revealed that many occupants have no affiliation with SOAS, including "homeless people and persons wanted by the police."
The atmosphere at the camp is charged with defiance. On a makeshift sign, protesters labeled the Metropolitan Police as "a militia of the Zionist entity at SOAS." Despite their release, the arrested students remain undeterred. "Disclose, Divest, We Will Not Stop We Will Not Rest!" they declared on social media.
As SOAS seeks a court order to dismantle the camp, it's also considering expelling several students for their anti-Israel activism. Two elected student union officers, Alex Cachinero-Gorman and Abel Harive-Clark, have been suspended and stripped of their positions pending disciplinary hearings.
The conflict has exposed deep fissures within the SOAS community. While some students rally behind the protesters, distributing leaflets condemning the university's actions, others worry about campus safety and the escalating tensions.
In a poignant illustration of the camp's impact, one student revealed that some protesters, now facing eviction, have been using the encampment as a makeshift home. "They would have nowhere to go if the encampment is removed," the student claimed.
* The Jewish Chronicle contributed to this article.