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Students stage university protest Oxford students sit-in for Gaza
(about 3 hours later)
About 40 students have begun a sit-down protest in one of Oxford University's buildings in the centre of the city. A sit-down demonstration is continuing tonight at an Oxford University building to protest against the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza.
The protesters have occupied part of the Clarendon Building, close to the Bodleian Library. Up to 90 protesters have occupied part of the Clarendon Building, close to the Bodleian Library.
They have called for the university to release a statement condemning Israel's attack on Gaza.They have called for the university to release a statement condemning Israel's attack on Gaza.
They also want a lecture series at Balliol College, which was inaugurated by Israeli president Shimon Peres last November, to be cancelled. They also want a lecture series which was inaugurated by Israeli president Shimon Peres, to be cancelled.
"Palestinians have the same rights as we do, including the right to education as enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights," a student spokesperson said. It's not about taking sides - it's about justice for Palestinians Protest organiser Juliette Harkin
"We are proud to be students at Oxford University and do not want the University to contribute in any way to the undermining of the right to education." Protest organiser Juliette Harkin said that students in Oxford wanted to work in solidarity with the Palestinian people as well as other universities carrying out similar actions.
"It's not about taking sides - it's about justice for Palestinians," she said.
But some students disagreed with the sit-in.
"I think it's ridiculous that they're blockading a student building. We're not responsible - we just have lectures to get to," said one.
A spokesman for the university says the protest started at noon. They said they were working to resolve the situation.
'Settling in'
However, as the university's deadline of 1700 GMT passed, students began settling in for the night.
One male student was heard instructing a friend on the outside of the building to go home and fetch a sleeping bag.
Another student, third year Stefan Tarnowski, said that after discussions with the proctors, "watered down" versions of their demands had been offered and rejected.
"We are all planning to stay the night," he said.
"We may offer a one in one out system as some of us who are good climbers are able to climb in and out but not everyone."
He said the students had asked the proctors to meet them on the condition that no punishment would be imposed for the protest.
However, there were suggestions that although there will be no academic punishment the students could each receive £50 fines.