A pro-Palestinian encampment has sprung up on a sports field at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus in Vancouver to protest the Israel-Hamas war.
About 100 participants listened to speeches after putting up a dozen tents and a little library on MacInnes Field near the bus loop Monday morning.
Palestinian flags have been hung on surrounding fences, along with banners calling for “Freedom for Palestine” and for Canada to “stop arming the genocide,” referencing the sale of Canadian arms to Israel.
A list of camp rules released by organizers say the group “do[es] not talk to cops or campus security” and “do[es] not engage with agitators or counter-protesters.”
“We commit to grounding ourselves in the cause of this encampment: solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people who are facing genocide. We reject co-optations and centring of anyone but the people of Palestine,” it reads.
A member of Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver said supporting the UBC encampment is important because it is the first in Western Canada.
“Looking at what is happening in Gaza and the twisting and conflation of Israel and Judaism, it’s a really big problem,” said Sam Connolly. “The message that comes out of that conflates Jewishness with the genocide that’s going on, and I really don’t think that’s OK.”
Israel launched its war against Hamas after the militant group’s attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. During the attacks, some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza, including women and children.
Health authorities in Gaza say Israel’s offensive in the enclave has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children — and has led to the imminent risk of famine, the destruction of key hospitals and, according to the United Nations, the displacement of 1.9 million people.
As of Monday at noon, the mood at the UBC encampment was calm, with no security or police on site.
Social media posts calling for people to join the encampment say that masks are required. Organizers are also asking for money, supplies and sandbags.
In a statement, UBC said it was monitoring the encampment and that protests should take place with respect for others and within university policy and the law.
“Any actions that create a health and safety risk, impede the university community (students, faculty and staff) from continuing learning, research, work and other activities on campus, or damage university property will be taken very seriously and investigated,” the statement said.
The UBC encampment adds to a growing number of Palestinian solidarity protests taking place at colleges and universities in Canada and the United States.
Last week, protesters in Montreal set up an encampment on the McGill University campus demanding the school cut financial ties with Israel.
Some U.S. universities have called in police to break up demonstrations, resulting in scuffles and dozens of arrests. Last week, more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University were arrested.
