Ghent (Brussels Morning) – Ghent University students are occupying a building to demand a complete academic boycott of Israeli institutions which the university’s Human Rights Commission is set to decide on Thursday.
The folks camping out at the UFO building in Ghent University will keep at it until the Human Rights Commission decides about Israeli partnerships which is set for Thursday. If there’s a complete academic boycott they say they’ll wrap up the protest.
Activists’ Persistence: Shaping Change at Ghent University
Yesterday around 200 supporters of Palestine listened to the head of Ghent University suggest a tougher human rights policy regarding partnerships with Israel. These supporters have been pushing for a boycott for weeks which would mean cutting off all connections with Israeli organizations. Rector Rik Van de Walle is urging the Human Rights Commission to assess all collaborations by Thursday and end them if needed. The activists claim that all Israeli institutions are involved in the ongoing genocide. They are confident that a complete boycott will happen. They believe their ongoing efforts have led to this development.
The decision to move closer to a complete boycott is a result of our persistent efforts not just the rector’s goodwill. Our continuous actions and advocacy for change have played a significant role in pushing for this stricter stance on Israeli partnerships at Ghent University. It shows that our activism and dedication have influenced the direction of these important decisions.
Activist Influence And Protest Impact:
The activists are standing firm on waiting for the committee’s verdict. They stress that the occupation won’t cease if collaborations with Israel persist. Furthermore they’ve urged Ghent University to acknowledge the conflict in Gaza as genocide. The activists are unhappy about the rector’s potential eviction and have criticized his minimal interaction with both them and the media in recent times.
The protest got intense when demonstrators entered the Vice-Chancellor’s building, leading to a clash with security and the arrest of 10 protesters, with one facing assault charges. However, the situation has calmed down. Imam Benhaddou is in talks with the protesters to address their demands. The university will decide on Thursday whether to suspend ties with three Israeli academic institutions associated with human rights abuses.
