The University of Edinburgh’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Sir Peter Mathieson and Vice Principal Colm Harmon addressed the Gaza Solidarity Encampment in Old College.
This marks the first time Sir Mathieson went to the Old College encampment and the second time for Harmon since it was established this Monday.
The pair requested that the demonstrators stop engaging in their hunger strike in solidarity with civilians in Gaza for their own safety.
Currently demonstrators estimate four students are engaged in hunger strikes, with more aiming to join in next week.
“In spite of our disagreements, I am worried and concerned about you,” said Colm Harmon, telling the student demonstrators to reach out for pastoral care if needed.
Two students four days into their hunger strikes said that concern over their wellbeing would not be necessary if the University commits to divestment.
“It’s not about the conditions of us hunger striking, it’s about the conditions of those in Gaza” said one student participating in the hunger strike.
Harmon talked with the demonstrators for roughly an hour while Sir Mathieson stayed for 30 minutes.
One demonstrator said that they found the conversations “unsubstantial”
“The reason why we are here is because dialogue has failed to reap any actionable results.”
The university’s Justice for Palestine Society (JPS) has previously alleged that the University holds over £39 million in companies directly or indirectly linked to Israel.
This centres around investments in Blackrock – the world’s largest asset manager – as well as Amazon and the chemical manufacturer Albemarle.
Edinburgh University Student Association is supporting the divestment campaign, whilst the University College Union (UCU) Scotland has voiced support for the broader boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign.
Demonstrators said that action from the University Executive is the “final piece of the puzzle”.
They are calling on Sir Mathieson and Harmon to add a commitment to action on a divestment strategy in a University Executive meeting taking place on Tuesday 14 May.
The University will begin reviewing its Responsible Investment Policy on May 31st for three months. Students and members of staff are able to provide consultation to ensure the policy reflects “the range of views on important global issues across our community”.
In a statement published on 9 May, Sir Mathieson responded to Edinburgh University’s Justice for Palestine Society’s demands.
He noted that a portrait of the university’s former Chancellor Arthur Balfour (1891–1930) had already been removed.
While serving as U.K. Foreign Secretary Balfour wrote the Balfour Declaration of 1917 to commit the British government to establishing a Jewish state in Palestine.
Responding to the demand that the University of Edinburgh denounce “settler colonisation of Palestine”, demonstrators were directed to the University Race Review, which aims to provide a comprehensive analysis on the University’s connections to slavery and colonialism.
The Race Review is scheduled to be completed by a sub-committee by the end of 2024.
Many demonstrators argued that regardless of a review, it is necessary to be proactive not reactive to colonialism.
“There needs to be emergency measures rather than waiting for a review”, said one demonstrator. “Let’s review the holdings themselves in addition to the [investment] policies under review,” said another.
Demonstrations and encampments in support of divestment have occurred across universities in both the U.K. and internationally, with members of the hunger strike arguing their local actions were representative of international actions.
“We’re all part of one movement. We’re all part of one student intifada. We’re in it together, in solidarity across all continents”.
Vice Principal Colm Harmon said “we’ll keep talking” before leaving the encampment.
Image via Sam Marks