Pro-Palestinian student protesters say they hope talks with McMaster University will continue after a week of camping out on campus.
Members of the group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights met with Sean Van Koughnett, McMaster’s dean of students, on Friday, after calling for the university to disclose and divest its investments they say have ties to Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
“It was a good start,” Caleb Smolenaars, a third-year labour studies student and spokesperson for the group, told CBC Hamilton on Sunday. “We’re hopeful the pressure keeps McMaster willing to meet with us.”
Van Koughnett released a short statement online on Friday, after McMaster declined an interview with CBC Hamilton.
“We had a constructive discussion and look forward to continuing these in the very near future with a view to identifying ways to move forward,” read the statement.
Students pitched roughly two dozen tents and fenced off part of school grounds at the Hamilton university on May 5.
A week later, the encampment has grown to roughly 65 tents and upwards 150 people.
The group continues to draw attention to the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since early October, according to health officials in Gaza.
While the health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its death tolls, it says the majority of the dead have been women and children.
WATCH: Why universities keep saying no to divestment
Around the world, students are calling on their universities to ‘disclose and divest’ their investments in companies and organizations linked to Israel. Andrew Chang explains why many universities are rejecting those calls and how past divestment movements have laid the groundwork for today’s protests.
The humanitarian crisis comes from the Israeli military response to an attack on Oct. 7 that was launched by Hamas and other militants. In that attack, 1,200 people were killed, including several Canadian citizens. Hamas also took more than 250 people hostage. It still holds some 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30.
More than 300,000 Palestinians fled Rafah over the weekend as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern Gaza strip, according to UN estimates.
McMaster and students butt heads during 1st week
The protest at McMaster followed similar demonstrations at post-secondary schools in Canada and the U.S., some of which have seen police use force at encampments.
Students at the McMaster encampment say they’ve had no issues with campus security or police.
Demonstrators say they won’t leave until the school:
- Discloses its investments in weapons companies and defence contractors, and divests from companies they say have ties to Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
- Terminates exchange programs and partnerships with Israeli academic institutions.
- Declares that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is a genocide.
McMaster has faced similar demands for months, but hasn’t heeded to those calls.
Throughout last week, the school issued statements Smolenaars described as attempts to distract people from students’ demands.
The day the encampment formed, the school published an online statement from Susan Tighe, school provost and academic vice president, saying “the safety and security of anyone who participates is very concerning.”
On Wednesday, there was another update from Tighe, saying the school heard “concerns” from community members and received a letter from SPHR that was “confrontational.”
The letter hasn’t been released publicly by the school or demonstrators.
One group with concerns is Jewish student group Hillel Ontario. Spokesperson Jay Solomon told CBC Hamilton of “several instances” where protesters have praised Palestinian resistance and Intifada, “which, over many decades, has included the deliberate murder of thousands of Jews and Israelis.”
“Hateful rhetoric like this has no place on a Canadian university campus and serves only to intimidate and silence Jews at McMaster,” he said in an emailed statement.
Students at the encampment held a press conference on Thursday, responding to Tighe’s statements.
“If they’re so concerned about safety, it’s really not clear why … they don’t meet the demands,” Smolenaars told CBC Hamilton.
‘University is moving too slowly’: trustee
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Hamilton released a statement last week in support of the protesters, saying they “proudly stand in solidarity with McMaster students who… have joined a worldwide movement.”
On Friday, IJV held a Shabbat dinner at the encampment with some Jewish students and community members. Shabbat is the time of rest when adherents of the Jewish faith traditionally share a meal to celebrate the creation of heaven and earth.
On Saturday, students also held a rally — the same day McMaster held an open house — to mark Nakba Day, which is usually held on May 15.
Nakba, the Arabic word for ‘catastrophe,’ is the term used by Palestinians and their supporters to describe Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Many Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes in the ensuing war between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
Students at McMaster chanted in support of a Palestinian revolution, waved Palestinian flags and included speakers including Independent Hamilton Centre member of provincial parliament Sarah Jama.
On Sunday afternoon, the encampment was quiet, with most people gone for the weekend and Mother’s Day.
Kids ran within the encampment and played while some students kicked around soccer balls.
One tent was a library of sorts while another was called the “Kids Intifada” with colouring sheets, beading, chalk and bubbles.
There was also a medic tent set up and other gazebos with food and drinks.
Sabreina Dahab, a Hamilton public school board trustee, visited the encampment on Sunday and said the school should comply with students’ demands.
“The university is moving too slowly,” Dahab said.
“The university slogan is ‘A brighter world,’ and I know the students have been talking about how there is no brighter world without a free Palestine. And I agree.”